When it came to casting the new fantasy-adventure “The Book of Life,” director Jorge Gutierrez and producer Guillermo del Toro knew they would need a specific voice for the role of the town hero Joaquin. As the male counterpoint to the soulful Manolo (voiced by Diego Luna), he is both the best friend and romantic rival for the heart of Maria (voiced by Zoë Saldana). The two roles not only put a new spin to the classic “Prince Charming” type, they also represent the two sides of what it is to be a hero: the poet and the muscle.
Channing Tatum’s ascent to stardom has been built on roles that offered both archetypes at once, a key reason why he was sought for the character of Joaquin. With “The Book of Life,” Tatum was thrilled to finally enter the arena of animation in a lead role. And, when the role was pitched to the actor by Gutierrez, Tatum responded eagerly to the director’s impassioned telling of “The Book of Life.” “When we pitched Channing the movie, he loved it and was laughing the entire time,” says Gutierrez. “And then he took me aside and said, ‘You know I’m not Mexican, right?’ We had a big laugh, and Channing just jumped in and made Joaquin his own.” Tatum further shares in the following Q&A the fun and unforgettable experience in voicing Joaquin.
Channing Tatum’s ascent to stardom has been built on roles that offered both archetypes at once, a key reason why he was sought for the character of Joaquin. With “The Book of Life,” Tatum was thrilled to finally enter the arena of animation in a lead role. And, when the role was pitched to the actor by Gutierrez, Tatum responded eagerly to the director’s impassioned telling of “The Book of Life.” “When we pitched Channing the movie, he loved it and was laughing the entire time,” says Gutierrez. “And then he took me aside and said, ‘You know I’m not Mexican, right?’ We had a big laugh, and Channing just jumped in and made Joaquin his own.” Tatum further shares in the following Q&A the fun and unforgettable experience in voicing Joaquin.
