Channing Tatum Opens Up About the Biggest Career Mistake He Ever Made

Channing Tatum says he once passed on a dream role and now sees it as one of the biggest mistakes of his career.

In a conversation with Vanity Fair, the actor revealed that Guillermo del Toro once asked him to play the Beast in the director’s version of Beauty and the Beast.

At the time, Tatum had just become a father and was already working on a difficult movie. He also felt that the script wasn’t fully ready. Because of all that, he said no.

Looking back, he regrets it deeply. “One of the biggest mistakes of my career: Guillermo del Toro wanted to do Beauty and the Beast, his version of the Beast. And I’d just had a baby, I was on a movie that was absolutely killing me, and the script wasn’t totally there yet. I was just in a place in my head that I was like, ‘I don’t think I can do this right now.’ It was the biggest mistake, because I’m the biggest Guillermo fan ever,” Tatum said.

“And I think Guillermo doing Beauty and the Beast would’ve been the sickest movie ever.”

Luckily for him, the project never ended up being made. Still, Tatum said he hopes to work with del Toro one day, even if he feels he may never forgive himself for turning down the chance.

“He’s got a billion other things that he wants to do. He’s such a creator. I’ll probably never forgive myself on that one, but I hope we get to work together one day.”

Del Toro has since moved on to other projects. His latest film, Frankenstein, premiered at the Venice Film Festival and received a long standing ovation. The movie stars Oscar Isaac as Dr. Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the monster.

It’s always tough to make choices in the moment, especially when family and personal struggles are involved. Tatum may feel he missed out, but the fact that the movie never happened means he didn’t actually lose the role. What do you think? Should Tatum let go of the regret, or do you think he’s right to call it one of his biggest mistakes? Share your thoughts in the comments.