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

Channing Tatum's long-awaited Gambit movie, which was ultimately canceled, was set to bring a unique twist to the superhero genre. According to Lizzy Caplan, who was slated to star alongside Tatum, the film had a distinctive '30s screwball romantic comedy vibe set within the superhero world. In an interview with Business Insider, the Cloverfield actress described the project as having "a really cool idea."

Tatum's journey to portray the fan-favorite X-Men character, Gambit, faced numerous hurdles. Despite his efforts, the project was scrapped following the 2019 Disney-Fox merger. Tatum has openly discussed the emotional toll this took on him, admitting to feeling "traumatized" by the ordeal. However, fans were pleasantly surprised by his cameo in the MCU blockbuster, Deadpool & Wolverine, reigniting hopes for future appearances.

Deadpool & Wolverine: Easter Eggs, Cameos, and References

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Caplan, who was reported to join the project as early as 2017, confirmed her involvement and shared that they were close to starting production. "We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it," she told Business Insider. "I think there was a start date."

In 2018, Simon Kinberg, the producer of the Gambit movie, revealed to IGN that the film would have a "romantic or sex comedy vibe," aligning with Gambit's character as a hustler and a womanizer. "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 reinforced this vision, stating, "They wanted to do, like, a '30s kind of screwball romantic comedy set in that world, which would have been really fun."

As for what lies ahead for Tatum and Gambit, Marvel Studios has yet to provide any concrete plans, though they have confirmed the eventual integration of the X-Men into the MCU. The excitement among fans was further fueled last August when Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds shared a high-quality version of a scene from Deadpool & Wolverine on Twitter, sparking intense speculation about Gambit's future in the MCU.

Warning! Deadpool & Wolverine spoilers follow.