Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan's Magic Mike Dispute Explained: They 'Probably Feel Like It’s Worth the Gamble' (Exclusive)

It's been nearly six years since Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum announced they were splitting up, but the divorce still isn't settled — and there is a lot of money at stake regarding earnings from Tatum's Magic Mike film series.

"Jenna is trying to prove that all of the Magic Mike intellectual property was developed during their marriage," explains Kara Chrobak, shareholder at national law firm Buchalter, of why the exes, both 43, are going to court over the financial matter. (Chrobak isn't working with either of them.)

Dewan's lawyers claim that she is still entitled to earnings from the lucrative franchise, noting that they were developed and co-financed by Tatum during their marriage "with community effort and marital funds."

"Jenna will want to show, through witnesses and testimony, that the various spinoff projects were in the works or at least contemplated by Channing during their marriage and before they separated," Chrobak continues.

Chroback says that Tatum disputes that all of the film's earnings and IP were acquired while the couple were still married.

"Channing is trying to prove that the relevant Magic Mike earnings and intellectual property were acquired after the parties separated and therefore his separate property," she says. "To prove this, he will need to demonstrate, through witness testimony and exhibits, when the relevant intellectual property was developed and when the income was earned. The timing of this information will be critical to his case."

She adds, "Given the amount of money at stake, both of them likely feel that it is worth the risk to let a judge decide. Jenna, especially, does not have much to lose, aside from attorney’s fees, by taking this to court, and her upside is huge if she prevails."

She adds that the proceedings are rather unusual.

"While it is very unusual, it is it not entirely unheard of," Chroback says, noting that it is a difficult issue to resolve independently.  

"Either the earnings at issue are his separate property, and therefore his, or the earnings are community property and subject to equal division," she says of why they are going to court.

"There is not really a middle ground, so it would be very hard for these two to compromise and settle the case on their own. Given the amount of money at stake, both probably feel like it’s worth the gamble to have a court decide."

The original Magic Mike film earned about $167.2 million globally, and its most recent and final installment garnered $57.1 million, according to  The Hollywood Reporter. In addition, a spin-off reality TV series aired in 2021, and a popular live Magic Mike attraction has been staged in Las Vegas.

In response to Dewan's filing, Tatum's lawyers say Tatum is disappointed by the ongoing dispute, and has "exhausted all efforts in an attempt to settle this matter without litigation."

Tatum and Dewan married in July 2009, and Dewan filed for divorce in October 2018. They share 10-year-old daughter Everly.

Dewan now shares son Callum Michael Rebel with her fiancé, and this past January they revealed they are expecting their second child together. Meanwhile, Tatum is currently engaged to Zoë Kravitz.

If Dewan were to remarry her fiancé Steve Kazee, Chroback says this would be a moot point.

"If Jenna were to remarry, it would impact her spousal support," she says, noting that it's a possible reason why the engaged couple have yet to marry. 

"Under California law, spousal support automatically terminates when the spouse receiving the support remarries. If Jenna remarries, her spousal support from Channing goes away."