You’ll Never Guess Who Convinced Joe Manganiello to Strip for Magic Mike

Joe Manganiello wasn’t always so sure about joining the cast of Magic Mike, where he and a band of merry, sweaty men bare it all for raucous crowds. In fact, if it wasn’t for one comedian, the towering star may have never jumped on stage at “Xquisite” — and wouldn’t be appearing in the upcoming sequel Magic Mike XXL.

The star told Seth Meyers on Late Night on Monday that Chris Rock was the one who ultimately convinced him to take the role.

“I’m kind of a guy’s guy and I think guys are going to hate me if I keep doing this,” Manganiello recalls telling Rock. “And he said, ‘Man, guys are going to hate you anyway.'”

With that piece of golden advice, the rest was history.