After Haywire, 21 Jump Street, and Magic Mike, Channing Tatum has had quite a year so far, putting together a string of successes that have changed how people view the hunky actor. Now he is looking to leverage the success of those movies to get even farther outside of the box that Hollywood originally put him in. Tatum is in negotiations to star in and produce an Evel Knievel biopic, retelling the life story of the world’s most famous daredevil and American icon from the 1970s. Between 1965 and 1980, Knievel attempted 75 motorcycle jumps, many of which were televised, and he still holds the Guinness World Record for most broken bones ever (433). If that’s not a guy who deserves a big budget biopic, I don’t know who does.

Truth be told, Knievel’s life has been told on screen a few times before. George Hamilton played him in the 1971 film Evel Knievel, and Knievel played himself a few years later in Viva Knievel!. Sam Elliott was also cast as Knievel in the pilot for an Evel Knievel TV series in the ’70s, and most recently George Eads played him in a 2004 TNT original movie directed by John Badham.

According to THR, Tatum will reteam with Magic Mike screenwriter Reid Carolin, who will base the script on the book Life of Evel by Stuart Barker. Mike DeLuca and Dana Brunetti (The Social Network, Moneyball) will produce. Carolin’s involvement makes me think there will likely be a comedic element to the film; certainly Knievel’s life had its share of wacky moments. But this is also another chance for Tatum to show that he can actually act. What do you think, is this a good fit for Channing Tatum and a smart move for his career? Are you looking forward to an Evel Knievel biopic?