Newly Single Channing Tatum Shares Shirtless Thirst Trap of Tattoo Cover-up Process: 'Chaos'

12/06/2024 04:10 PM

Tatum and Zoë Kravitz called off their engagement in October after 3 years together

Channing Tatum is transforming his look for his role in the film Roofman. 

In a Dec. 5 Instagram story, the 44-year-old actor shared a photo from the hair and makeup chair on set of the upcoming heist film, writing, "Chaos of tattoo covering and wigs."

In the shirtless image, several makeup artists appear to be covering Tatum's ink using body makeup on his chest and shoulders. He's also sporting a wig cap and a new goatee.

Related: Channing Tatum Is 'Doing Well' as He and Zoë Kravitz Keep Busy with Work After Their Split (Exclusive Sources)

Tatum will be playing real-life man Jeffrey Manchester, a thief who was dubbed the "rooftop robber" after stealing from companies like McDonald's and Toy R Us by drilling through the roofs of their buildings. The film is set to be released in 2025 and costars Peter Dinklage, Juno Temple, Kirsten Dunst, LaKeith Stanfield and more. 

When it comes to his tattoos, Tatum has mostly kept the ink covered on the red carpet and in film roles through the years, though he has shared some insight into his body art in interviews and on social media. 

Prior to his split from ex-fiancée, Zoë Kravitz, in October, Tatum was photographed sporting her initials "ZK" in thick black ink on the back of his left hand, though it is unknown if that was a permanent tattoo or hand-drawn. The couple called off their engagement back after three years together.

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In 2022, Tatum told former costar Sandra Bullock in a Wired.com video that he'd gotten his fifth tattoo with "the Ranger boys," whom he worked with while filming his 2022 movie Dog, in which he played a former Army Ranger. 

And in September 2023, Tatum showed off his "L333" tattoo on the back of his left calf on his Instagram Story, writing at the time, "Basically a prison tattoo," and sharing he'd gotten the ink with his fitness trainer, Trey Allen, who got "N853" inked across his left knee.

Tatum also has an intricate forearm tattoo from celebrity artist Dr. Woo, who shared a photo of the body art in 2022. The image features a figure seemingly heading toward the light from a dark tunnel. 

"The light will guide u in the dark .. from a cool design brought in by @channingtatum," Dr. Woo wrote at the time. 

Related: Separated Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan Got 'Symbolic' Matching Tattoos on Their Honeymoon

On his bicep, the Magic Mike star has an indecipherable combination of lines, and on his shoulder he sports a hand holding several playing cards. On his ribcage are the words "side by side" written in Balinese, a message he got to match his ex Jenna Dewan's foot tattoo while the former couple were on their honeymoon in Bali 2009.

"Jenna and I have twin tattoos we got on our honeymoon in Bali," Tatum told PEOPLE in 2012 when he was named Sexiest Man Alive. "It says, "Side by side." Mine is here [touches his rib cage], but hers is on her foot."

As for the meaning behind the matching tattoos, Tatum, who shares 11-year-old daughter Everly with Dewan, 44, previously told PEOPLE, "We weren't going to do each other's names. We wanted to do something symbolic. It was in one of our vows to each other. We took it from that."