With a colorful and enduring career spanning two decades,Channing Tatumhas certified himself as a fan-favorite actor in Hollywood, with the talented performer starring in a slew of big-screen hits likeShe’s the Man, Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street,andLogan Lucky.Tatum is never afraid to let loose and embrace his playful side, and in 2022 the charismatic leading man appeared in two of the biggest films of the year:The Lost CityandBullet Train.
Though he memorably starred alongside Sandra Bullock in the action adventureThe Lost City, which went on to be both a critical and commercial knockout, Tatum also made a sidesplitting cameo in the Brad Pitt-led action comedyBullet Train, both surprising and delighting audiences with his short-yet-entertaining cameo. Observant fans of both the gifted actor and the two popular flicks have picked up on a fun connection between the two blockbuster hits, with a distinct Easter egg being featured inBullet Train; let’s check it out.
Bullet Train
Channing Tatum’s Hilariously Unexpected Bullet Train Cameo
Channing Tatum is undeniably one of the silver screen’s most entertaining leading men, as he has no problems tackling roles both big and small while also serving up unforgettable cameos in a slew of fan-favorite films likeThis Is the End, Don Jon,andFree Guy. In the star-studded 2022 action comedyBullet Train, Tatum once again embraced his wild and weird side when he made a surprise appearance in the adrenaline-pumping flick, whichfocuses on the anxious assassin known as “Ladybug” (Brad Pitt) as he finds himself competing with other lethal hitmen to complete a high-stakes mission while on a speeding railway train.
As Ladybug attempts to disarm andoutmaneuver killing machineslike British twin brothers Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry), poison-wielding The Hornet (Zazzie Beetz), and the vengeance-seeking young assassin The Prince (Joey King), he ends up crossing paths on the train with a familiar face.While searching for a highly-coveted suitcase full of cash, Ladybug meets Tatum’s aptly-named character Train Passenger, who is just trying to enjoy his book amid all the ongoing chaos and carnage.
Ladybug offers the stranger $200 to wear his bucket hat and distract the other killers trying to take him out during his hectic search for the ransom money/suitcase. Tatum cheekily responds, “Is this like a sex thing?” with his interest obviously (and downright hilariously) piqued by the appearance of the mysterious Ladybug. Despite the cameo being brief, Tatum delivered a perfect performance that left his character far more aroused than frightened at the ongoing mayhem around him, and eagle-eyed fans have since noticed a juicy little Easter egg:the book he was reading comes from the actor’s blockbuster hit movieThe Lost City.
Not only did the stranger’s short appearance completely throw off Ladybug and hisfellow assassin Tangerine(as well as delighted moviegoers), but the scene also tipped its hat to Tatum’s action adventure extravaganza that was released earlier that year. In fact,both Tatum and hisThe Lost Cityco-star Sandra Bullock make cameos inBullet Train,with Bullock playing Ladybug’s contact and handler Maria Beetle, and Pitt would go on to return the favor by joining them in their action comedy as the rugged and handsome former Navy SEAL Jack Trainer.
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Channing Tatum and Sandra Bullock made some serious movie magic when they headlined the sensational action adventureknockoutThe Lost City.It centers on reclusive former archaeology researcher-turned-successful romance novelist Loretta Sage as she finds her life mirroring the words on her pages when she is kidnapped by eccentric billionaire Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe),who believes she holds the key to finding a priceless ancient treasure. Loretta’s dimwitted-yet-earnest cover model, Alan Caprison, is secretly in love with the author and sets out on a daring mission to rescue her from the unhinged Fairfax.
Alan enlists the help of the strong andresourceful Jack Trainer, a savvy CIA operative who was once a Navy SEAL, to track down Loretta and Fairfax after he flies her to a remote volcanic island in the Atlantic.Brad Pitt served up an electrifying cameo performance as Trainer, who is undeniably the man of Loretta’s dreams and immediately captivates her with his fearless attitude, handsome looks, and charming demeanor (despite his appearance being short-lived). Bullock (who also executive producedThe Lost City) was the reason the A-list actors ended up appearing in each other’s buzzed about films, all because they happen to share the same hairstylist.
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Both projects ended up being certified blockbuster hits, asBullet Traingrossed over $239 million andThe Lost City$192.9 million worldwide, with both films attracting rave reviews from critics and fans alike.According to an interview Bullock didwith ComicBook in 2022,the Academy Award-winners never even spoke directly, and they ended up using their mutual hairstylist to serve as the middle-man for the creative collaborations, as she also did Pitt’s hair forBullet Train;Bullock told the publication of the exchange:
“She was doing his hair for Bullet Train and he said, ‘Can you call Sandy and get her to do this film?’ He never called me. So I talked only through Janine. And then once I agreed to do that I then talked through Janine to get Brad to do this film. So Janine Rath-Thompson is actually the conduit for our work.”
