After starring with Amanda Seyfried in the romantic drama “Dear John,” Channing Tatum says he could get used to portraying vulnerable yet strong leading men. 

“The ‘G.I. Joe’- and ‘Fighting’-type movies are fun and all, but they’re not as in depth as a movie like ‘Dear John,’” Tatum said in recent interview to promote the movie, which opens Friday.

In the film based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, Tatum plays John, a soldier who falls in love with Seyfried’s character, Savannah, before he heads off to war.

“With this role, I was able to express a different side of myself that I hadn’t really done before,” Tatum says. “I don’t think I’ll ever give up dance-type movies like ‘Step Up’ because I love doing those, too, but I can definitely see myself branching out doing more romantic films.”

The hunky actor also has discovered that doing romantic dramas isn’t nearly as dangerous as action films.

Tatum had what he calls a crazy experience while filming a river scene in the upcoming movie “The Eagle of the Ninth” when a crew member accidentally poured scalding water down his wet suit, thinking it was lukewarm,  “scorching” his private parts.
“I’m OK now and everything is fully operational, but I had to take a day off from filming and wrap it up because it was so painful,” he says.

Acting with Seyfried also convinced Tatum that he might be better suited for romantic material. “Amanda and I had never worked together before, but we just had such great chemistry and so much fun together. I’m hoping we can work again soon,” he says.

Both actors say that simply being attached to a film adaptation of a Sparks book was a big incentive for doing the project. “I love that Nicholas’ characters are all so strong and multidimensional,” Seyfried says. “My character, Savannah, is a much stronger person than I could ever be. I also like that his movies are so realistic. Everything surrounding these two people is heartfelt and believable.”

For Tatum, it was his wife, actress Jenna Dewan, who turned him on to Sparks’ books.

“My wife read ‘The Notebook’ and loved it. And when I saw the movie, I did, too,” Tatum said. “Since then, I’ve been hooked on everything he’s written, from ‘Message in a Bottle’ to ‘A Walk to Remember.’ I’m hoping there will be a ‘Dear John’ sequel. Maybe it will be called ‘Dear Savannah.’”

IF YOU GO

Dear John

Starring Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Henry Thomas, Richard Jenkins, Keith Robinson

Written by Jamie Linden

Directed by Lasse Hallstrom

Rated PG–13

Running time 1 hour 48 minutes