20,000 doubts with David Fincher and Channing Tatum?

We  all know that David Fincher is a serious filmmaker. Hell, he hasn’t even suffered a box office flop, let alone critical failure. But it seems he’s raising a few eyebrows with his latest directing endeavor, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

In a recent story from the crew over at The Playlist, Fincher’s shortlist for possible actors for 20,000 Leagues includes the ever trendy Channing Tatum. Fincher’s original choice was with his longtime counterpart Brad Pitt, but with Pitt’s passing on the project, the new search for the lead role has begun.

Tatum has skyrocketed to the top of Hollywood’s must-have actors list in the past few years, thanks to a slew of financially successful movies and his ever-present exposure. Though many of them are critically weak, he does have a few that have garnered some serious attention from the big wigs upstairs, as well as Fincher himself. Now, while there are far more terrible actors present in film today, Tatum isn’t someone that I would put at the top of my own personal list. He may have done a good job in the 21 Jump Street reboot, but let’s not forget his role in G.I. Joe or his one of several Nicholas Sparks adaptions or Step Up “gems”.

So it’s not surprising to hear the interwebs questioning Fincher’s shortlist, regardless if the rumors are true or not. One thing, however, is certain; we’re dealing with David Fincher. Very rarely, if ever, does Fincher lead us astray. Not to mention he’s been directing all over the place in all facets of the industry lately.

His most recent project was reuniting with Justin Timberlake for his Suit & Tie music video, which released shortly after House of Cards, a Netflix exclusive series. Prior to that, he was finishing up Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn as well as Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Simply put, he’s been a busy boy.

So let’s just give him the benefit of the doubt and trust in his judgement. He’s earned it. For now.