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

Channing Tatum's long-awaited Gambit movie, which was ultimately canceled, was set to bring a unique twist to the superhero genre by adopting a '30s screwball romantic comedy vibe, according to actress Lizzy Caplan. In an interview with Business Insider, Caplan, who was slated to star opposite Tatum in the film, praised the project's "really cool idea."

Tatum's journey to portray the beloved X-Men character Gambit has been fraught with challenges. The actor's efforts to bring Gambit to the big screen were thwarted following the 2019 Disney-Fox merger, leaving him "traumatized" and fearing he might never get the chance to play the card-throwing mutant. However, fans were pleasantly surprised by Tatum's cameo as Gambit in the MCU blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadpool & Wolverine: Easter Eggs, Cameos and References

38 ImagesCaplan confirmed her involvement in the Gambit project as early as 2017, revealing to Business Insider that she had signed on and even had discussions with Tatum about the film. "We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it," she shared, noting that there was a planned start date.

In 2018, Simon Kinberg, the producer of the Gambit movie, elaborated on the film's intended tone in an interview with IGN, describing it as having a "romantic or sex comedy vibe." He attributed this direction to Gambit's character, stating, "When you look at Gambit, he’s a hustler and a womanizer and we just felt like there was an attitude, a swagger to him, that lent itself to romantic comedy."

Reflecting on the project years later, Caplan confirmed the unique approach, saying, "They wanted to do, like, a '30s kind of screwball romantic comedy set in that world, which would have been really fun."

As for what lies ahead for Tatum and Gambit, Marvel Studios has yet to make any official announcements, though they have confirmed the upcoming integration of the X-Men into the MCU. Last August, Ryan Reynolds, star of Deadpool, fueled speculation among Gambit fans by tweeting a clearer version of a scene from Deadpool & Wolverine that was difficult to discern in theaters.

Warning! Deadpool & Wolverine spoilers follow.