CelebrityWorld

Channing Tatum is quickly rising up the celebrity-to-watch ladder, and may have taken the unofficial title as the number 1 new celebrity to watch in 2009. Tatum first gained widespread attention in the 2005 basketball flick, “Coach Carter”, starring Samuel L. Jackson, but is now making his own mark with three big budget blockbusters being released this year.

The hunky Tatum sure has the WOW factor, but his “gosh, gee, darn” persona seems less like an up and coming Hollywood star, and more like his Mississippi River upbringing. He’s more Tom Sawyer with a hip-hop flavor, than a Brad Pitt wannabe. And he seems to take all of his new found celebrity in stride.

Tatum’s latest feature, “Fighting”, opens Friday and co-stars Terrence Howard. The film explores the growing world of underground brawling, which attracts everyone from Wall Street types to street thugs to events where the money winner is simply the last man standing.

Later this year, he will star as Pretty Boy Floyd in the Michael Mann re-make of the John Dillinger story, “Public Enemy”. The film starsh acting heavyweights Johnny Depp, Christain Bale, and Billy Cruddup. Not bad company to share screen time with.

“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” is also being released this year, with Channing as the title character. This big budget adventure also features Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller, Rachel Nichols, and Marlon Wayans.