Channing Tatum's Gambit Film: A '30s Screwball Romance in Superhero Setting

Channing Tatum's much-anticipated Gambit movie, which never saw the light of day, was set to bring a unique twist to the superhero genre with its '30s screwball romantic comedy vibe, as revealed by actress Lizzy Caplan. In an interview with Business Insider, Caplan, who was slated to star alongside Tatum, described the concept as "a really cool idea." The film aimed to blend the charm of classic romantic comedies with the high-stakes world of superheroes, focusing on the charismatic and roguish nature of Gambit.

Tatum's journey to portray the beloved X-Men character has been fraught with challenges. His efforts to bring Gambit to the big screen were derailed following the 2019 Disney-Fox merger, leaving him "traumatized" and fearing he might never get the chance to play the card-wielding mutant. However, fans were thrilled to see Tatum make a surprise cameo as Gambit in the MCU blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, sparking renewed hope for the character's future in the Marvel universe.

Deadpool & Wolverine: Easter Eggs, Cameos and References

Caplan, who was set to play the female lead in the Gambit movie as early as 2017, confirmed her involvement and shared that she had meetings with Tatum about the project. "We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it," she said, noting that they even had a start date in mind. The film's producer, Simon Kinberg, had previously hinted at the movie's tone, telling IGN in 2018 that it would have a "romantic or sex comedy vibe" due to Gambit's personality as a hustler and womanizer.

Caplan's recent comments to Business Insider further elaborated on the film's intended direction, stating, "They wanted to do, like, a '30s kind of screwball romantic comedy set in that world, which would have been really fun." This unique approach would have set the Gambit movie apart from typical superhero fare, offering a fresh and engaging narrative.

As for what lies ahead for Tatum and Gambit, Marvel Studios has yet to make any official announcements, though they have confirmed the eventual integration of the X-Men into the MCU. The excitement around Gambit was reignited last August when Ryan Reynolds, star of Deadpool & Wolverine, shared a high-quality version of a scene on Twitter that was difficult to see in theaters, fueling speculation among fans about Gambit's future in the MCU.

Warning! Spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine follow.