For those clamoring for the ever-delayed Gambit movie to come back to life, you may have gotten your wish.

The Gambit solo film has been in the works for a while and experienced many production delays. 20th Century Fox was adamant to tell the story of Cajun mutant Remy LeBeau, who has the ability to mentally control and manipulate energy, specifically through the use of playing cards. Back in 2014, Fox revealed Channing Tatum would be starring in Gambit, which would be released in the summer of 2018. After an exhausting search for a director (Edge of Tomorrow’s Doug Liman was eventually chosen), production was supposed to begin in March and the film would be out in October. If that supposed launch date seemed ambitious, it’s because it was. Fox dropped Gambit from its 2016 schedule, and it appeared the project would never see the light of day.

Now it appears Gambit is back on. Producer Simon Kinberg spoke with The Hashtag Show, where he stated, “We have a great script on that and hope to shoot that movie at the beginning of spring of next year.”

That’s good news for the film’s future. Kinberg is an X-Men film universe expert and has produced many of Fox’s X-Men releases. However, the report should be taken with a grain of salt. Gambit has been pushed back multiple times and changed hands creatively more than once. A script might be ready, but it remains to be seen if those who committed to shooting the film in 2016 will stick around. Fox is loading up on Marvel X-Men universe characters wanting to capitalize on the success of Deadpool. The Old Man Logan Wolverine film is currently in production and a New Mutants film is also on the way. That’s without mentioning whatever’s next for the current generation of X-Men.

Is there a big appetite for a Gambit solo movie? The most memorable performance from Wolverine: Origins was Taylor Kitsch in the role and it’s a big swing and a miss that he’s not back. Of the many issues with that film, Kitsch wasn’t one. He brought Gambit to life, much like Ryan Reynolds did (when he wasn’t being maimed) as Wade Wilson.

Look, I’m not a Channing Tatum hater. He seems to share a passion for the character and appears to be quite committed to the getting the project off the ground considering he’s stayed through all the delays. He’s also an underrated dramatic actor, evident by excellent performance in Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher. But he’s a weird fit. Tatum doesn’t share the same physique as Gambit and I’m not confident he can pull off the character’s iconic Cajun accent, which Kitsch nailed. It’s hard not to judge Tatum before seeing him in the role. However, people were shocked at Heath Ledger being cast as The Joker in The Dark Knight, so I’ll reserve criticism until I see Tatum as Gambit.

With that said, the more and more time that’s passed with the project, the less interest I have in it. Gambit is a great character, but he’s hardly the next X-Men member I’d pick for a solo film. How about spinning off one of the characters from the current X-Men team or introducing Gambit in another film to make sure he works before taking the plunge on a franchise? There’s a lot to be iffy about.

I trust Kinberg as he’s been a part of the best X-Men films to date. If Liman sticks around, I’m more inclined to see it. Tatum, despite Kitsch being better suited as the titular character, is fine. But it still remains to be seen though how a Gambit film would work.

[io9]

 

About Liam McGuire

Social +Staff writer for The Comeback & Awful Announcing. Liammcguirejournalism@gmail.com

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