Alex Pettyfer Strips for Channing Tatum

With Steven Soderbergh directing, Channing Tatum's male stripper pic Magic Mike promises to be more Academy Awards than Razzies -- but the film won't be short on beefcake. Alex Pettyfer has just joined the cast, playing Tatum's young stripper protege.

The film was developed by Tatum and is based on his days as a teenage stripper in Florida. Tatum will play the older mentor, while Pettyfer will play a young Tatum.

The film is expected to start shooting later this year. Though most of Tatum's clients were women, he has discussed the few men who used to come out and watch him take his clothes off.