According to People magazine, Jenna Dewan asserts her right to profit from the 'Magic Mike' franchise, developed during her marriage to Channing Tatum.
Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum, once a Hollywood power couple, are now entangled in a legal dispute revolving around the financial success of the Magic Mike franchise. The couple, who separated in April 2018, have yet to finalize their divorce due to disagreements over the division of assets, particularly those derived from Magic Mike.
Dewan’s lawyers recently pushed for a separate trial focused solely on the profits from the Magic Mike franchise. Dewan claims the Magic Mike concept, which Tatum starred in and produced, was created during their marriage, entitling her to an equal share.
The Magic Mike franchise, which debuted in 2012, has burgeoned into a major brand, including film sequels, a reality show, and a Las Vegas live performance, significantly enhancing its income streams and associated financial complexities.
In her legal filings, Jenna Dewan contends that after her separation, Channing Tatum redirected some of the profits from this joint asset into a new entity without her consent or knowledge. According to her legal team, this move was designed to obscure the true earnings from the Magic Mike franchise.
After their separation, Jenna Dewan claims that Channing Tatum transferred some of their joint Magic Mike earnings to another entity without a clear purpose. Her legal team contends that this move was an attempt by Tatum to disguise the actual amount of profits due, suggesting they were solely his efforts post-split.
However, Channing Tatum’s legal team has refuted these claims, arguing that he has not denied Dewan any share of the community assets. They also oppose the request for a separate trial concerning the Magic Mike earnings, asserting continuity in the development of the Magic Mike brand which they claim should differentiate the earnings before and after their separation.
The couple first met on the set of the movie 'Step Up' in 2006 and were married in 2009. Their divorce proceedings began shortly after their public separation announcement in April 2018, and they were declared legally single in late 2018 although final settlement details remained pending.
Channing Tatum has since moved on and is now engaged to Zoë Kravitz, and Jenna Dewan is engaged to Steve Kazee, with whom she shares children.
Tatum's legal representatives express frustration, stating they have "exhausted all efforts to settle this matter without litigation." They emphasize that Dewan has been provided with all financial records and continual updates regarding the financial aspects of Magic Mike.
The core of the dispute lies in the recognition of intellectual property created during a marriage and its subsequent treatment post-separation. Dewan’s legal team remains steadfast in their claim that the Magic Mike concept, conceived during their marriage, warrants equal division of all subsequent profits.
As their legal battle unfolds, this case highlights the complexities intertwined in the division of assets post-divorce, especially when intellectual property and substantial financial gains are involved. If Dewan’s team succeeds in securing a separate trial, the decision could set a significant precedent regarding how creative ideas conceived within marriage are treated legally in divorce proceedings.
The court has yet to announce a decision regarding the request for a separate trial on the Magic Mike earnings, leaving observers and fans alike eager for a resolution. This ongoing legal drama underscores the personal stakes involved and the broader implications of intellectual property in divorce proceedings.
