Just three months after he signed on to direct 20th Century Fox's Gambit, starring Channing Tatum, Deadline reports that Rupert Wyatt has backed away from the project. Production was originally scheduled to start in November, but filming has recently shifted to start in March, which conflicted with an unspecified project for Rupert Wyatt. Here's what the filmmaker had to say in a brief statement about why he is leaving.

"I was very much looking forward to working with my friend Channing and the team at Fox, but regrettably a push in the start date now conflicts with another project. I thank them for the opportunity, and I know that Gambit will make a terrific film."

The site reports that 20th Century Fox is quickly trying to find a replacement director, but it isn't clear if the studio has a specific filmmaker in mind. Back in January, the studio set an October 7, 2016 release date for Gambit, but if production is shifting to March, it seems unlikely that date will be hit. As of now, Gambit is going up against Warner Bros.' The Accountant and Universal's Monster High. However, even if the studio does find a directorial replacement soon, it me be very difficult to hit that October 7 release date, if shooting starts just seven months earlier.

Léa Seydoux is set to star as the female lead, Belladonna Boudreaux. The actress beat out others such as Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation) and Abbey Lee (Mad Max: Fury Road) for the role. In the comics, Remy LeBeau (Channing Tatum) was Belladona Boudreax's first love. They had an arranged marriage to unite the Thieves Guild, which Remy was a part of, and the Assassin's Guild, which Belladonna's father was the leader of.

The marriage never happened, as Remy was forced to flee New Orleans. Belladona went on to get her own super powers, the ability to shoot plasma blasts. Joshua Zetumer (RoboCop) wrote the screenplay, but there isn't much we know for sure about the story. Are you disappointed that Rupert Wyatt won't be directing Gambit?