Tatum was first considered for the lead role in 'Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan' by Russian director Sergey Bodrov. The role later landed to Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano, reported ContactMusic.
"We met... At that time, he hadn't decided he was going to use an Asian actor because Genghis Khan is rumoured to have had freckles and green eyes and red hair, because he was more from northern Mongolia. Back in the day, the Mongolians didn't have the dark features they have today," said Tatum.