Channing Tatum's 'Gambit' Film: A '30s Superhero Rom-Com Canned

Channing Tatum's long-awaited Gambit movie, which was ultimately canceled, was set to bring a unique twist to the superhero genre with a '30s screwball romantic comedy vibe, according to actress Lizzy Caplan. In an interview with Business Insider, Caplan, known for her role in Cloverfield, shared insights into the film's concept, describing it as having "a really cool idea."

Tatum's journey to portray the beloved X-Men character Gambit has been fraught with challenges. Despite his efforts, the project was shelved following the 2019 Disney-Fox merger. Tatum has openly discussed his fears of never getting to play the card-wielding mutant, admitting that the experience left him "traumatized." 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

38 Images

Lizzy Caplan was slated to play the female lead in the Gambit movie as early as 2017. She confirmed her involvement and shared that she had meetings with Tatum about the project. "We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it," Caplan revealed. "I think there was a start date."

In 2018, Simon Kinberg, the producer of the Gambit movie, told IGN that the film would have a "romantic or sex comedy vibe," reflecting Gambit's character as a hustler and 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 confirmed 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 make any announcements, though they have confirmed the upcoming integration of the X-Men into the MCU. Last August, Ryan Reynolds, the actor behind Deadpool, fueled speculation among Gambit fans by tweeting a high-quality version of a scene from Deadpool & Wolverine that was difficult to discern in theaters.

Warning! Deadpool & Wolverine spoilers follow.