Simon Kinberg on the status of GAMBIT after Disney/Fox merger. Also: Thoughts on future MCU crossovers with the X-Men.

Longtime X-MEN producer and Dark Phoenix director Simon Kinberg gave Variety an update on the status of Channing Tatum’s long-gestating GAMBIT solo film. The project has seen its shares of pushbacks with multiple directors and release date changes. Now with Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox and their stable of Marvel characters, the film’s future is one big question mark.

“The latest is, we’ll see, honestly since the merger happened I think all of the movies at Fox are being evaluated and [Disney will] figure out what they want to do with them. I would love to see it happen. I love the idea of seeing Channing playing Gambit. I think we have a great script for it and I think it’s a role he was born to play. It’s a character I grew up loving and I know the fans love, so I hope it will happen.”

When asked which Marvel Cinematic Universe character he’d like to see interact with the X-Men, Kinberg said he’s “a fan of so many of those MCU characters” that will now share the spotlight with mutantkind.

“I guess I would say probably either somebody from Wakanda or Iron Man. I love [Robert] Downey [Jr]. I’ve worked with him, I love what he does with that character and I feel like he created the tonal template for the MCU with the first Iron Man movie. So the notion of Iron Man popping up in X-Men or interacting with Deadpool is pretty exciting. I think there will be a lot of mixing and merging now; I’m all for it and as a fan I’m excited to see it.”