WTF: Channing Tatum Is Looking to Drop Out of GAMBIT!?
Wow! I did not see this coming at all! Channing Tatum, who has been working hard on getting a Gambit solo film made at 20th Century Fox for years, might leave the project! The news comes from The Wrap, and it’s a bloody shame if it actually turns out to be true. This was a passion project for the actor, and I was actually looking forward to seeing Tatum take on the role. Hell, the guy surprised Hall H at Comic-Con when he walked up on stage to promote the film!
The movie was scheduled to start shooting in October, but now that Tatum is walking away from it, who knows what’s going to happen? There’s no reason given as to why Tatum is leaving. The report just says that the “deal is in jeopardy of falling apart.” They go on to say that Tatum’s reps are “still in active discussions with the studio but [their source] acknowledged that ‘something is up.'” So there’s still a chance that it can be salvaged, but it's not looking good.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes helmer Rupert Wyatt is set to direct the film, and they’ve been heavily involved with casting the film. Up until yesterday, Tatum was doing screen tests with actresses who are up for the lead female role. One of those actresses is Spectre‘s Lea Seydoux.
If Tatum really does leave, it will be interesting to see who they would bring in to take his place. I can only imagine the crazy drama that is going on at this moment. It makes me wonder who pissed off Tatum so much that he would ditch the project like this. As far as casting goes, it would be interesting to see the studio bring back Taylor Kitsch to reprise his role from X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
The screenplay for the film was written by Josh Zetumer (RoboCop), Tatum was going to produce it alongside Simon Kinberg and Lauren Shuler Donner. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see what the outcome of this will be. Maybe one day we'll find out what went on behind the scenes to cause this insanity.
Gambit is scheduled for release October 7th, 2016. That's if they don’t shut down the production.