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Home / Entertainment

Why stop at Channing Tatum, merman? Here are other female roles we'd like to see men play

By Elahe Izadi, Caitlin Gibson
Washington Post·
3 Aug, 2016 07:00 AM3 mins to read

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Actor Channing Tatum will be playing a merman in the remake of Splash. Photo / Getty Images

Actor Channing Tatum will be playing a merman in the remake of Splash. Photo / Getty Images

When news broke that chiseled It-boy Channing Tatum would play a merman in a gender-swapping remake of the 1984 hit movie Splash, a lot of people got very excited.

A scene from the '80s movie, Splash.
A scene from the '80s movie, Splash.

Not only are we seeing more women reprising traditionally masculine roles - Mad Max, Ghostbusters, Star Wars - but now we've got one of Hollywood's top male idols playing a character originally defined by feminine sex appeal.

A scene from the recent Ghostbusters movie.
A scene from the recent Ghostbusters movie.

This time, it will be a man who goes to enormous lengths to find his long-lost love, a man who (we can only hope) will stride forth from the sea completely nude, wandering around helpless and mute until his woman rescues him.

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Why stop there? Here are other female roles we would love to see played by dudes.

Barry Jones' Diary

Can Barry Jones have it all? He is sure gonna try! He's solidly in his 30s, worries constantly about his weight and isn't even married (sad!). But he's going to take control of his life and documents it all in his brutally honest diary. Watch the moment Mary Darcy tells Barry that "I like you very much, just as you are." He doesn't even have to change for her - swoon!

Sex and the City

A scene from the TV show, Sex and the City.
A scene from the TV show, Sex and the City.

Cary Bradshaw spends his whole life brunching with bros, writing about feelings and trying to understand women - especially his elusive on-again, off-again flame, a woman so powerful that he doesn't dare speak her real name.

Marty Poppins

Don't let his whimsical songs and nonsense words fool you: Marty Poppins is a magical, musically inclined manny who takes his childcare responsibilities very seriously.

Charlie's Cherubs

Once upon a time there were three very different little boys who grew up to be three very different men with three things in common: They're brilliant, they're beautiful and they work for Charlie (that's short for Charlene).

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Big Bang Theory

A scene from the TV show The Big Bang Theory.
A scene from the TV show The Big Bang Theory.

A hot, aspiring male actor lives next door to some super nerdy and super smart women. Zany antics ensue. The end.

There's Something About Mark

I don't know guys, there's just something about Mark. He's an attentive listener, he loves yoga, he visits his mother and he's smoking hot. So, total package.

Pretty Man

Julia Roberts in the 1990 film Pretty Woman.
Julia Roberts in the 1990 film Pretty Woman.

Vick, a prostitute in Los Angeles, gets hired by Edna, a powerful businesswoman who needs an escort during work and social functions. The two soon fall for each other - hard. Watch Vick giggle adorably as Edna presents him with a fancy watch. Vick even breaks his "no kissing on the mouth" rule. Eventually Edna turns her white limo around and saves our proud but poor, lovable Vick.

Legally Blonde

Actress Reese Witherspoon in a scene from her Golden Globe nominated film, Legally Blonde.
Actress Reese Witherspoon in a scene from her Golden Globe nominated film, Legally Blonde.

Elmer Woods is a ditzy frat guy who can't wait to marry his ambitious girlfriend and become a trophy husband. But then his girl tells him that he's just not serious enough for her big political aspirations, so rejected Elmer and his tiny chihuahua follow her to Harvard, determined to win her back.

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