Channing Tatum's Gambit Film: A '30s Screwball Romance in a Superhero Setting

Channing Tatum's long-awaited portrayal of the fan-favorite X-Men character Gambit was set to take a unique turn with a film that promised a '30s screwball romantic comedy vibe within the superhero realm. This intriguing direction was revealed by actress Lizzy Caplan, who was slated to star alongside Tatum in the now-canceled project. In an interview with Business Insider, Caplan praised the concept, calling it "a really cool idea."

Tatum's journey to bring Gambit to life has been fraught with challenges. Despite numerous setbacks, including the cancellation of the Gambit movie following the 2019 Disney-Fox merger, fans were thrilled by Tatum's surprise cameo as Gambit in the MCU's blockbuster, Deadpool & Wolverine. The actor has openly shared his fears of never getting to portray the card-wielding mutant, describing the experience as "traumatized."

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Lizzy Caplan, who was announced as the female lead in the Gambit film as early as 2017, confirmed her involvement in the project during her interview. She mentioned having meetings with Tatum and that they were close to starting production. "We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it," Caplan recalled, adding that they even had a tentative start date.

Simon Kinberg, the producer of the Gambit movie, elaborated on its unique tone in a 2018 interview with IGN. He highlighted Gambit's characteristics as a "hustler and a womanizer," suggesting that the film would adopt a "romantic or sex comedy vibe." This direction was further supported by Caplan, who noted, "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 Channing Tatum and Gambit within the MCU, Marvel Studios has remained tight-lipped. However, they have confirmed the eventual integration of the X-Men into the MCU, leaving fans hopeful for more Gambit appearances. Last August, Ryan Reynolds, star of Deadpool & Wolverine, fueled speculation among Gambit enthusiasts by tweeting a high-quality version of a scene from the film that was previously difficult to discern in theaters.

Warning! Deadpool & Wolverine spoilers follow.