Jada Pinkett Smith is in beefcake heaven, Entertainment Wise reported.
The 44-year-old actress confirmed on Monday that she is joining Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Alex Pettyfer and Gabriel Iglesias for the highly-anticipated "Magic Mike XXL." Smith told Queen Latifah in an interview that "there was a character written for a male that they wanted to turn into a female."
Smith is among the handful of actresses who have been casted in the "Magic Mike" sequel, which is currently in production. Johnny Depp's fiancé, Amber Heard, was tapped for the female lead role, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Andie MacDowell is also joining the cast.
The impressive number of thong-clad male talents in the production doesn't faze Jada in the least. The mother of two, who is married to actor Will Smith, said she can handle "being around beefcake."
"I'm used to that kind of beefcake-ness in my environment. I can handle it," Jada said.
The actress, who currently stars in the "Gotham" series, will reportedly play the character of a club owner, but Smith won't be baring any skin in the film, saying her role is "not one of those... but I'm excited about it."
The first "Magic Mike" installment took the world by storm when it premiered in 2012. The flick originally starred Academy Award winning actor Matthew McConaughey as a club owner, but director Greg Jacobs confirmed last week that the actor will not be joining the second film, according to Indie Wire.
Tatum and Reid Carolin co-wrote the script for the "Magic Mike" sequel, which began production in early September. Steven Soderbergh, who directed the first film, will return as editor and cinematographer for "Magic Mike XXL."
Soderbergh, who shoots under his cinematographer pseudonym Pete Andrews and edits under his alter ego Mary Ann Bernard, said he wants to be part of the production but not as the director.
"I want to be there, but I don't want to be the director," Soderbergh told GQ magazine. "I want to be a part of it. I want to be in the band, but I just don't want to be the frontman this time."
The film is set to be released on July 1, 2015.