Channing Tatum's long-awaited Gambit movie, which was ultimately canceled, was set to feature a unique blend of the '30s screwball romantic comedy vibe within the superhero universe, according to actress Lizzy Caplan. In an interview with Business Insider, Caplan, known for her role in Cloverfield, shared her excitement about the project, describing it as having "a really cool idea."
Tatum's journey to portray the beloved X-Men character Gambit had been fraught with challenges. After years of trying to bring the film to life, it was ultimately scrapped following the 2019 Disney-Fox merger. The ordeal left Tatum feeling "traumatized" and fearing he might never get to play the card-wielding mutant. However, fans were thrilled to see Tatum's surprise Gambit cameo in the MCU blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine.
Deadpool & Wolverine: Easter Eggs, Cameos and References
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Caplan had been cast as the female lead in the Gambit movie as early as 2017. In her conversation with Business Insider, she confirmed her involvement and revealed that she had meetings with Tatum about the project. "We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it," Caplan recounted. "I think there was a start date."
In 2018, Simon Kinberg, the producer of the Gambit movie, told IGN that the film would adopt a "romantic or sex comedy vibe," aligning with the character's persona. "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 echoed these sentiments, confirming the film's intended tone. "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 remained tight-lipped, although they have confirmed the upcoming integration of the X-Men into the MCU. Last August, Ryan Reynolds, star of Deadpool, stoked 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.
