Locally filmed series “Six” has lost its lead actor.
Joe Manganiello has backed out of the project, Kristen Hines, a spokesperson with A+E Networks confirmed late last week.
Hines would not comment on the reason for the “Magic Mike” and “True Blood” star’s sudden departure from the History channel drama, but did say the project is on hold until his role is recast.
Entertainment magazines like Variety and sites such as RadarOnline have claimed the physical demands of “Six,” about a US Navy SEALs team, were too much for Manganiello, who reportedly has a preexisting medical condition. Manganiello was playing Rip Taggart, a hardened former squad leader of SEAL Team 6 who, at the show’s start, is working to protect a small African village from Boko Haram.
Tammy Skinner, film liaison for the City of Wilmington, said last week that the show would “go on hiatus for a few weeks” following an overnight shoot at the NC State Ports Authority on April 10.
Since filming got underway in mid-March, “Six” has been on location at spots across town, including the downtown US Post Office on Front Street, Cape Fear Community College’s Union Station and private residences.
It was the second TV production announced for the area in early 2016, joining TNT’s “Good Behavior.” Starring Michelle Dockery of “Downton Abbey” and based on Blake Crouch’s bestselling Letty Dobesh book series, “Good Behavior” returned to the Port City in early March to film eight episodes. The pilot for the show was shot here late last year.
Hines said filming for “Six” will resume in Wilmington within the next two months.
Hilary Snow is a reporter at Port City Daily. Reach her at hilary.s@portcitydaily.com.
