Channing Tatum: I was so traumatized after GAMBIT cancellation.

Channing Tatum’s GAMBIT solo film was put to rest in 2019 after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, leading to their expansive stable of X-Men characters going to Marvel Studios. Speaking with Variety, the ‘Dog’ co-director and actor revisted his journey which left him “traumatized.”

“Once ‘Gambit’ went away, I was so traumatized,” said Tatum. “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.”

Disney or not, the project went through years of development hell. Tatum and producing partner Reid Carolin wanted to co-direct after creative difference led to multiple directors leaving during pre-production.

“They would call him ‘flamboyant’ in his description,” Tatum says of script notes. “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.”

After the success of Ryan Reynolds’ DEADPOOL films, and Hugh Jackman’s LOGAN, the project was considered for an R rating and more comedic in nature.

“We wanted to make a romantic comedy superhero movie,” said Carolin.“The thesis was the only thing harder than saving the world is making a relationship work.”

That relationship would’ve involved Gambit’s first love, Belladonna Boudreaux; the member of a rival Guild. Think: Comedic action-heist film where ‘Romeo & Juliet’ meets ‘X-Men.’

‘Gambit’ was close to actually filming. “We were right on the one-yard line,” said Carolin. “We had cast the film. We’d opened up a production office. We were on our way to shoot in New Orleans.”

The future of Gambit is unknown with the Marvel Cinematic Universe gearing up to introduce mutants. Could Tatum find himself portraying the role under Marvel? “I would love to play Gambit,” he concludes. “I don’t think we should direct it. I think that was hubris on our part.”

Source: Variety