Pee-wee Herman’s next screen adventure just got a hell of a lot more hunkish. True Blood and Magic Mike star Joe Manganiello has just boarded Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, the loooong-awaited third Pee-wee film that began production last month under first-time feature helmer John Lee and executive producer Judd Apatow. Set to premiere on Netflix, the film is said to be a road movie in the tradition of the classic Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.
Speaking as Pee-wee Herman, star Paul Reubens remarked to Deadline, “Joe’s already my friend – and he’s tremendously talented and a terrific person. I am so glad we are finally going to get to work together. This totally makes up for being cut out of Magic Mike and Magic Mike 2!”
It turns out that Manganiello is quite a fan of the iconic man-child. “Paul Reubens,” said the actor, “is one of the great comic geniuses of our time. Growing up, my Saturday mornings were all about Pee-wee Herman. I saw everything he did. I can’t believe that I’m going to get to share scenes with one of the iconic figures of my childhood.”
Manganiello’s career has skyrocketed since he first appeared as the werewolf Alcide Herveaux in producer Alan Ball’s HBO adaptation of author Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse mystery novels. He recently appeared in Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups, and has two more films set for release this year — including Gregory Jacobs’ Magic Mike XXL, in which he’ll reprise his role as the awesomely named Big Dick Richie.
The nebbish Pee-wee has often been at his funniest when acting against dashing straight men like James Brolin in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, so I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Manganiello. Now we just need the actor to bring his equally-easy-on-the-eyes fiancee Sofia Vergara along, who, as she’s proved time and again on Modern Family, has some most impressive comic chops of her own.
