Channing Tatum’s Canceled Gambit Movie Had a '30s Screwball Romantic Comedy Vibe Set in the Superhero World

Lizzy Caplan reveals Channing Tatum's scrapped Gambit film was envisioned as a 1930s screwball romantic comedy within the superhero genre.

In a recent interview with Business Insider, Caplan, who was slated to co-star with Tatum, described the project as possessing "a really cool idea." The film, intended to feature Tatum as the titular X-Men character, faced numerous setbacks, ultimately falling apart following the 2019 Disney-Fox merger. Tatum's journey to bring Gambit to the screen was fraught with challenges, leaving him reportedly "traumatized" by the experience. His eventual appearance as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine marked a surprising turn of events.

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Caplan confirmed her involvement in the project as far back as 2017, stating that she'd signed on and even participated in meetings with Tatum. She revealed, "We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it. I think there was a start date."

Producer Simon Kinberg previously hinted at the film's comedic direction, telling IGN in 2018 that it would have a "romantic or sex comedy vibe," aligning with Gambit's character traits. Kinberg noted Gambit's "hustler and womanizer" persona, suggesting a natural fit for the romantic comedy genre.

Caplan corroborated this vision, stating, "They wanted to do, like, a '30s kind of screwball romantic comedy set in that world, which would have been really fun."

The future of Tatum's Gambit remains uncertain. While Marvel Studios has confirmed the X-Men's impending arrival in the MCU, no official announcements regarding Gambit have been made. Last August, Ryan Reynolds' tweet of a high-quality Deadpool & Wolverine scene reignited fan speculation.

Warning! Deadpool & Wolverine spoilers follow.