Superhero movie Gambit may be in jeopardy as a deal with leading man Channing Tatum appears to have unravelled, according to The Wrap.
Tatum was seen promoting the X-Men spin-off at Comic-Con in San Diego earlier this month, but is now said to be renegotiating the project with 20th Century Fox.
The film is to be directed by Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ Rupert Wyatt, with a scheduled release date of October 2016. Wyatt will be eager to resolve the situation quickly and it is unclear as yet whether Tatum will stay on in a producing capacity or exit the project entirely.
Last month, Tatum and his producing partner Reid Carolin spoke to Grantland about their plans to move into directing. This, and another Jump Street movie set to hit screens in 2016, may have factored into Tatum’s decision.
Taylor Kitsch previously played comic book character Gambit aka Remy LeBeau in X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009. The character is known for using playing cards as his weapon of choice.
Tatum had long shown interest in playing the character and said a standalone Gambit film would “change the ‘hero/superhero movie’”, adding “Gambit is not your typical hero. He’s a thief.”
