Channing Tatum's highly anticipated Gambit movie, which was unfortunately canceled, was set to bring a unique twist to the superhero genre with its '30s screwball romantic comedy vibe. Lizzy Caplan, who was slated to star alongside Tatum, shared insights into the film's concept with Business Insider, describing it as having “a really cool idea.”
Tatum's journey to portray the beloved X-Men character Gambit has been fraught with challenges. Despite his efforts, the project was shelved following the 2019 Disney-Fox merger, leaving Tatum feeling "traumatized" and doubtful about ever bringing the card-carrying mutant to life. However, fans were thrilled to see Tatum make a surprise cameo as Gambit in the MCU blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine.
Deadpool & Wolverine: Easter Eggs, Cameos and References
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Caplan confirmed her involvement in the Gambit project as early as 2017, revealing that she had signed on and even held meetings with Tatum about the film. "We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it," Caplan recalled. "I think there was a start date."
In 2018, Simon Kinberg, the producer of the Gambit movie, shared with IGN that the film was envisioned with a "romantic or sex comedy vibe," fitting the character's persona. "When you look at Gambit," Kinberg explained, "he’s a hustler and a womanizer and we just felt like there was an attitude, a swagger to him, that lent itself to romantic comedy."
Seven years later, Caplan echoed this sentiment, noting, "They wanted to do, like, a '30s kind of screwball romantic comedy set in that world, which would have been really fun."
As for the future of Tatum and Gambit within the MCU, Marvel Studios has remained silent, although they have confirmed the upcoming integration of the X-Men into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Last August, Ryan Reynolds, star of Deadpool, fueled speculation among Gambit fans by tweeting a high-quality version of a scene from Deadpool & Wolverine that was difficult to discern in theaters.
Warning! Deadpool & Wolverine spoilers follow.
