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

Channing Tatum's much-anticipated Gambit movie, which was ultimately canceled, was set to bring a unique twist to the superhero genre with its '30s screwball romantic comedy vibe, as revealed by Lizzy Caplan. The actress, known for her role in Cloverfield, shared insights with Business Insider about the film she was slated to star in alongside Tatum, highlighting the project's innovative approach as "a really cool idea."

Tatum's journey to portray the beloved X-Men character, Gambit, has been fraught with challenges. His efforts to bring the card-carrying mutant to the big screen were thwarted after the 2019 Disney-Fox merger, leaving him "traumatized" and fearing he might never get the chance to play the role. However, fans were thrilled to see Tatum make a surprise cameo as Gambit in the MCU blockbuster, Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadpool & Wolverine: Easter Eggs, Cameos and References

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Caplan, who was cast as the female lead in the Gambit movie as early as 2017, confirmed her involvement and shared that she had meetings with Tatum about the project. "We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it," she stated, revealing they were close to starting production. "I think there was a start date."

Simon Kinberg, the producer of the Gambit movie, described the film's intended tone to IGN in 2018 as having a "romantic or sex comedy vibe," fitting Gambit's persona as a hustler and womanizer. This vision 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 what lies ahead for Tatum and Gambit, Marvel Studios has yet to make any announcements, although they have confirmed the upcoming integration of the X-Men into the MCU. Last August, Ryan Reynolds, the star of Deadpool, fueled speculation among Gambit fans by sharing a high-quality version of a scene from Deadpool & Wolverine that was difficult to discern in theaters.

Warning! Deadpool & Wolverine spoilers follow.