For years, the running joke of the ‘X-Men’ film universe was that “Gambit” was never going to get made. The film had a massive star attached, with Channing Tatum fully excited to take on the mutant hero, but the studio just couldn’t get the script right, and directors would come and go endlessly. Ultimately, when Fox was acquired by Disney, it appeared “Gambit” was truly dead. While “Gambit” doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to get made, the journey of trying to bring that character to life has stuck with Channing Tatum.
Speaking to Variety, while promoting his film, “Dog,” Channing Tatum went through the drama and heartache that happened during his time of trying to get “Gambit” off the ground. For those unaware, Gambit is a mutant hero who is often a member of the X-Men. And during the ‘90s, especially due to the ‘X-Men’ animated series, the character exploded in popularity, rivaling that of Wolverine.
Apparently, the biggest issue with getting “Gambit” in production was the insistence that Tatum and his filmmaking partner, Reid Carolin, wanted to direct the film themselves. Fox just wasn’t having that.
“The studio really didn’t want us to direct it,” Tatum explained. “They wanted anybody but us, essentially, because we had never directed anything.”
Interestingly, Tatum and Carolin ended up making their directorial debut (also co-writing the script together) in the upcoming feature, “Dog.” So, now they’re not as unproven as before.
Overall, Tatum described the tone of his failed “Gambit” film as similar to “Deadpool.” And according to the actor/filmmaker, his version of the superhero would lean into the criticisms of the character, who is often seen as a bit ridiculous, with his pink outfit with a big leather trenchcoat.
“They would call him ‘flamboyant’ in his description,” Tatum said. “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 shit’s just fly, bro! This shit walked down the Paris runway last year.’ He’s just wearing the stuff that’s so dope because he loves fashion.”
Ultimately, we know “Gambit” is likely never going to happen. Well, if it does, it won’t be the same version that Tatum wanted to bring to the world years ago. And because of that hardship, the actor explained that he hasn’t been able to watch Marvel films since.
“Once ‘Gambit’ went away, I was so traumatized,” he said. “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.”
Judging by the upcoming Marvel Studios schedule, the studio won’t likely introduce any ‘X-Men’ characters for a couple of years still. And even then, the likelihood of a standalone “Gambit” film seems unlikely, to say the least. But hey, stranger things have happened, so who knows? Maybe Channing Tatum will don the pink and leather suit eventually.