BREAKING NEWS: William Levy Joins Cast Of Stripper Flick 'Magic Mike'

After spending years acting in mid-rent Spanish-language telenovelas, William Levy's steamy presence in Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Into You" music video has helped propel The Smoking Gun favorite to the Hollywood mainstream, joining the cast of upcoming major motion picture Magic Mike, directed by Oscar-winning Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Oceans Eleven, etc., Sex, Lies and Videotape), JustJared reveals.

The movie, which stars hottie Channing Tatum, is about the actor's days as a teen working as a g-string, lap-dancing stripper at Florida club Male Encounter, who schools a protege—played by former Gap & Burberry model Alex Pettyfer—on how to hustle on- and offstage.

Also recently joining the cast: ever-delicious Matthew McConaughey, playing a stripper-turned-club owner named Dallas; White Collar blue-eyed beauty Matt Bomer and—on the verge of signing—True Blood’s Joe Manganiello, who would play stripper "Big Dick Richie."

A source told JustJared, “Will is ready to heat up the silver screen. Just wait till you see his stripping moves." Oh, I have been imaging just that for so many months.

Daily Feature On The Smoking Nun: You Tell Me

Why do I blog? Foremost, it's to keep my writing skills razor sharp and to prompt me to stay up to date on everything about pop culture on the webbie. It's also become a portal for photography, which has grown increasingly gratifying since I purchased a Nikon digital SLR late last year.

I manage to attract between 400 and 500 hits a day, from all over the world (easy enough to see via the right-hand add-on gadgets). In that, of course, I want to make The Smoking Nun a constantly evolving blog that remains entertaining, interesting and perhaps compelling enough to check a few times a week. So I ask you, cool cats: What do you want to see as a daily feature over coffee and crumpets each morning?

For the last several months, I've had a blast with the New York Vintage Image of the Day... 84 in all. Before that, it was birthdays of celebs I've met and some of the stories behind them: the Starfucker Series.

Now it's up to you. I've posted a poll on the top right column allowing you to vote on a daily feature that will bring you back to the Nun... So what will it be? More NYC Vintage? A Male Model A Day? My take on Radio and Records? Or something I've not even considered?

I encourage you to add your comments to the bottom of this post, in addition to casting your vote. That said, if I end up with fewer than 100 votes by the end of the month, I'll recognize that no one is really paying attention after all—that the blog traffic really is all about William Levy and Rodiney Santiago's hot bods. I'll weep quietly... and then keep on keeping on. Thanks in advance for the input.

'Daily Mail' Gets Down & Dirty With William Levy & JLo Rumors

I thought we were done with the rumors that Jennifer Lopez was weak in the presence of beauty while filming her music video for "I'm Into You" with our dear William Levy. Apparently, the London Daily Mail has obtained some behind-the-scenes photos that show the pair chummy enough to perpetuate the tall tale... Come on, if you were JLo, and had this dreamy man in your grasp, wouldn't you want to hold on tight? It's only natural, really. No, really.

August: William Levy's Career Explodes (Oh, You're Very Welcome)

When we first met William Levy in October 2010, The Smoking Nun gushed, "He is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful creatures stalking the earth. The lips, the teeth, the hair, the eyes, that body… oh, and apparently he’s talented, too." Ultimately, he was our runner-up for Most Beautiful Man Alive in 2010, a close second to victor Rodiney Santiago.

At that point, Levy was best known for modeling in his skivvies and a burgeoning career in Spanish-language telenovelas: After high school, he studied business admin on a baseball scholarship and was then signed by Next Models and featured in two Telemundo reality shows in 2005. He studied acting, and was cast on Univision in the Venevision Olvidarte Jamas, before starring in a string of telenovelas.

What a difference a year makes. In addition to becoming the headliner on Telemundo's just-wrapped nighttime soap Triunfo del Amor, he gained instant notoriety when Jennifer Lopez hand picked Will to co-star in her music video for "I'm Into You."When Lopez announced her divorce from Marc Anthony earlier this month, the press had a field day suggesting that Levy and JLo were truly making beautiful music together during the vid shoot, especially since he and his D-level actress wife had recently parted ways.

Now suddenly, Levy is on fire, entertaining Hollywood film offers, developing a fashion line and appearing on Entertainment Tonight. I'm sure that The Smoking Nun's consistent monthly coverage of William has been the catalyst to push him over the edge toward true mainstream fame, right? No need for thanks. Happy to help!

And now for the news:
* Triunfo del Amor wrapped Aug. 1, as poor Levy met a tragic end. Despite the fact that his true love was all sickly and shit in a quarantined room, he lifted her plastic bed tent to hold her... and dropped dead within minutes. She really wasn't pretty. You'd think he might've waited until her antibiotics took hold. Alas!

* Dolce & Gabbana has discovered Levy's perfect form: He has reportedly signed a $300,000 contract that will toss him back in time to his early days as an undie model... mind you, with a few more 000's added to his winnings. Sweet!

* Levy is launching a line of clothing and accessories for women called Cuba that includes sunglasses, watches and lingerie. Apparently, he also has his own cologne coming in January 2012. Naughty thoughts, naughty thoughts...

* Will's birthday is this month! He will turn 31 August 29. We'll be celebrating his birth, for sure!

The World Can Turn Again: William Levy Shaves Head For Film Role

We've been in a near state of apoplexy since our beautiful William Levy shaved his beautiful head last week, seriously impacting his beautiful face. Well, we can all breathe again, the flowers can bloom and the world can resume spinning on its traditional axis: Levy is preparing for a movie role.

He's been talking about moving past his telenovela roles (including current Triunfo del Amor) for some time, and alluded to a role in which he is playing a boxer.  He will also begin filming the flick Mares de Dios (Sea of God) in November. 

“For my fans who don’t like the new look, no worries it will grow back soon,” Levy said in a Twitcam interview, making me blush, because I'm certain he was looking me directly in the eye. “I must confess that I love this new look because I no longer have to brush my hair or wash it.” He also whispered to me with a giggle, "People will take me more serious as an actor now that I’m bald.”

As for the ongoing rumors that he had an affair with Jennifer Lopez, whose music video "I'm Into You" he starred in, Levy says JLo was “very professional. Jennifer is an adorable girl." Then he winked. I blushed again.

Say It Isn't So! William Levy Shaves His Beautiful Head!

WTF?! Apparently reeling from all the rumors that he had anything to do with Jennifer Lopez's divorce from Marc Anthony, our beloved William Levy has shaved off his beautiful hair! Todo pelon! He appeared Thursday night in Miami as host of Los Premios Juventud, which honors Spanish-speaking celebs in film, TV, music and sports. Say it isn't so!

JLo & William Levy To Blame For Her Divorce? You Read It Here First!

Following the public announcement over the weekend that Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony are divorcing after seven years, The Smoking Nun wondered on Saturday if it might have something to do with her steamy video shoot with the Sexiest Man Alive William Levy for "I'm Into You."

Now, two days later, stories are oozing across the webbie hypothesizing the same. Just remember, cool cats: You read it here first! 

Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony Split: Is William Levy To Blame?

After seven years of marriage, Jennifer Lopez, 41, and Marc Anthony, 42, have told People that they are heading for divorce court. Is it possible that JLo rubbing bodies with William Levy during the filming of her music video for "I'm Into You" under the incandescent sun of the Mexican Caribbean was too much for the Latina to take?

You've seen Lopez, People's "World's Most Beautiful Woman," and Levy, the Sexiest Man Alive, according to The Smoking Nun. There certainly couldn't be a more beautiful pair on god's green earth.

And isn't it ironic that William recently split with his wife, Elizabeth Gutierrez?

William Levy: A New Month, A New Pictorial For The Sexiest Man Alive

We've just turned the calendar to a new month, which, of course, means it's time to scour the webbie for fresh pics of The Smoking Nun's favorite man of all time, William Levy.

As his fame continues to mount via the popular telenovela Triunfo del Amor (Triumph of Love), and his high-profile appearance in Jennifer Lopez's video music "I'm Into You," Levy and Triunfo co-star Maite Perroni have been invited to host the 25th Hispanic Heritage Awards gala, Sept. 15 at the Kennedy Center in Washington. The awards honor Latino achievements in the arts, education, business, science and sports.

Levy is also ready to evolve past his roles in Spanish-language telenovelas, reportedly shopping for English-language movie roles in Hollywood. Personally, I don't care if he even talks: Just place him on the big screen, hand me a bag of popcorn and we're all sitting pretty.

 Levy in a new ad campaign for Dolce and Gabbana.

Happy June 2011 From William Levy!

Buy William Levy's 2011 calendar here!