Playing the fan favorite X-Men superhero Gambit would have been a dream role for Channing Tatum, but it just wasn't meant to be. At one point, Channing was on board to play Gambit in a standalone Marvel movie that was in development at 20th Century Fox in 2016. Tatum also planned on co-directing the film with longtime producing partner Reid Carolin, with whom he's since shared directing duties with on the upcoming MGM movie Dog. The pair had also co-written the screenplay that presented a "raunchy" take on the character and would have presumably been R-rated.
For better or for worse, the Gambit movie was ultimately canceled before the cameras ever started rolling. Per Variety, Tatum opened up a bit on the cancelation of the film. He notes how the studio didn't want to let Tatum and Carolin co-direct the feature, though the actor was still set to play Gambit. Whether or not he could co-direct, Tatum was still thrilled about the script and this new version of the Gambit character that they had in mind.
"They wanted anybody but us, essentially, because we had never directed anything... They would call him ‘flamboyant’ in his description. I wouldn’t — he was just the coolest person. He could pull anything off. Most superheroes, their outfits are utilitarian. Batman’s got his belt. Gambit’s like, ‘No, this sh*t’s just fly, bro! This sh*t walked down the Paris runway last year.’ He’s just wearing the stuff that’s so dope because he loves fashion.”
Carolin says how their idea was to make a romantic comedy superhero movie that resembled the tone of Deadpool, a highly-successful superhero movie that was also R-rated. The project also made it pretty far into the pre-production process before it was shelved, as they'd opened a production office and had their full cast in place with plans to start shooting in New Orleans. Poor timing ultimately killed Gambit has Disney's acquisition of Fox in 2019 resulted in scrapping all creative plans for the X-Men, likely so they can be reintroduced as a part of the MCU.
Being completely honest, Tatum says he was devastated when Gambit was canceled. In fact, he hasn't even been able to watch any Marvel movie since, as it's impossible for him not to think about his ill-fated Gambit film.
“Once ‘Gambit’ went away, I was so traumatized. I shut off my Marvel machine. I haven’t been able to see any of the movies. I loved that character. It was just too sad. It was like losing a friend because I was so ready to play him. I wish they would reconsider, because it’s a pretty great project. Maybe someday.”
Channing Tatum Hasn't Given Up All Hope Just Yet
Channing Tatum hasn't closed the book on Gambit just yet. The screenplay is still on the shelf and the desire to play the character is still at the top of Tatum's wish list. He admits that he'd be happy to play Gambit if the new rights-holders decide that the project is worth revisiting after all. But he also says he's not even going to try directing it this time if that ball ever gets rolling again.
“Uh, yeah, I would love to play Gambit. I don’t think we should direct it. I think that was hubris on our part.”
You can catch Channing Tatum's new movie Dog when it is released on Feb. 18.