They looked magnificent as they took the stage for a dance number at the 85th Academy Awards on Sunday (February 24) and Charlize Theron and Channing Tatum really didn’t have much time to practice ahead of time.

According to Oscars producer Neil Meron, the “Magic Mike” stud and the “Italian Job” hottie had the best of intentions when it came to rehearsing, but illness threw everything off.

He explained, "They were going to cram and rehearse constantly over two days [right before the Oscars]. But then they both simultaneously got the flu."

"We were going, 'Oh my God.' Literally at the last minute they got to rehearse and miraculously got up there and they killed."

Meron continued, "We reached out to Charlize first, and there was no hesitation. She absolutely jumped on board. Chan said to us, 'Look, I have danced in all these movies, but I have never really done honest-to-God choreography. I don't know that I can do that.’ We told him, 'We believe you are a great dancer, and that you will be able to do it.' He said he would give it a try."