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

Channing Tatum's long-awaited portrayal of Gambit in a solo film took a unique twist, aiming to blend the superhero genre with the charm of a '30s screwball romantic comedy, as revealed by Lizzy Caplan. In an interview with Business Insider, the actress, who was set to star opposite Tatum, described the project as having "a really cool idea."

Tatum's journey to bring the fan-favorite X-Men character to the big screen has been fraught with challenges. Despite his efforts, the Gambit movie was canceled following the 2019 Disney-Fox merger, leaving Tatum feeling "traumatized" and uncertain about ever playing the card-wielding mutant. However, his surprise cameo in the MCU blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine reignited hopes among fans.

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38 ImagesCaplan, who was slated to play the female lead in the Gambit film 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, elaborated on the film's unique approach to IGN, stating it would have a "romantic or sex comedy vibe" due to Gambit's character traits. "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."

Caplan echoed this sentiment in her recent interview, affirming the film's intended direction. "They wanted to do, like, a '30s kind of screwball romantic comedy set in that world, which would have been really fun," she said.

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. Last August, Ryan Reynolds, star of Deadpool, fueled speculation by sharing a high-quality version of a scene from Deadpool & Wolverine on Twitter, sparking excitement among Gambit enthusiasts.

Warning! Deadpool & Wolverine spoilers follow.