Total Film have been talking to X-Men: Days of Future Past producer Lauren Shuler Donner at the X-Men X-Perience Global Tour, and got themselves quite the scoop.
Long rumoured to be in contention for the role of Gambit, Channing Tatum (21 Jump Street) has on multiple occasions espoused his love for the character. Well now he’ll have the chance to show us what he can do, as when asked about which X-Men she’d like to see in the future, Shuler Donner not only mentioned Tatum, but also confirmed that he has signed on to play the card-throwing mutant.
“Deadpool, Yes! X-Force is fascinating. We love X-Force, it allows us to be a little grittier. And also Gambit,” said Shuler Donner, when asked about the future plans for the franchise. “[Gambit] is Channing, yes. He’s a rogue. He’s a rascal, just like Remy LeBeau. And he can handle the action, we know that. And he has a good heart. He’s a Southerner too! He’s not from New Orleans but he’s a Southerner and he knows that world.”
Update: According to sources of THR, “Tatum will get a stand-alone spinoff, with his version of Gambit being introduced in X-Men: Apocalypse. The stand-alone film is still in development, however, and no director has been attached.”
As someone who dislikes Taylor Kitsch and likes Tatum, this sounds like a good piece of news to me. Seems you really are no one if you haven’t got a comic character under your belt.
But how do you feel about it? Let us know in the comments!
Originally published May 13, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
