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Channing Tatum Confirmed to Play Gambit in Future 'X-Men' Movies
by Ethan Anderton
May 13, 2014
Source: Total Film
Back in March, we learned from director Bryan Singer that the hope was to bring Gambit and Nightcrawler into the mix for X-Men: Apocalypse. While the latter seems like it would be a bit of a stretch since he already met the X-Men in X2, this is a new timeline in the past, so it all works out. Funnily enough, before Singer even revealed these two new mutants, franchise producer Lauren Shuler Donner was talking about landing Channing Tatum to play the Cajun, kinetically charged mutant, a role that the actor himself was interested in playing and took a meeting for in April. Now it sounds like his dreams have come true.
Speaking with Total Film, Donner seems to have confirmed Tatum for the role:
"Well you know he's a rogue, Channing. He's a rascal, just like Remy LeBeau, and he can handle the action, we all know that. He's got a really good heart, because I know him personally, I did a movie with him. So I think he'll be great, he'll be great for Gambit, and he's a southerner too, he's not from New Orleans but he is a southerner and he understands that world, and you know Gambit loves New Orleans."
While we're not as big of a fan of Tatum when he takes on more serious roles as opposed to his surprising gift for comedy in films like 21 Jump Street, this sounds like a role that perfectly suits him. With X-Men: Apocalypse already slated for release in 2016, you can expect production to begin later this year or early in 2015, so we should be hearing more about returning cast and the story. Of course, if our spoiler scoop from last year turns out to be true, then we have at least some idea of what might happen in the sequel that may be shot back-to-back with The Wolverine 2. Stay tuned for more.
UPDATE: Word has come from THR that Channing Tatum will be playing Gambit in his own spin-off movie separate from the X-Men franchise. However, Tatum will be introduced as Gambit in X-Men: Apocalypse, and the standalone Gambit movie will come sometime after that. No director is attached and the film is still in development, so we'll see what happens. In addition, Lauren Shuler Donner said there's another secret project in the works that she can't talk about. So speculate away as to what that might be.
25 Comments
1
Gambit is a stupid silly and cheesy character anyway.
Cocaino Weaver on May 13, 2014
2
BUT He gained prominence in the CBs because of his relationship with Rogue ; then in his own book feuded with Mystique some ( Rogue was teased to the dark side , for a few ..). So they can bring JLaw and Anna P into this movie series as well . It'll sound like an HBO series , with some corny Southern accents ..... tho much like Storm , I would prefer Rogue be somene taller , whose face would look god framed with big red curls ... What this says to me , is that SOMEBODY's listening . As this has been asked for in many places , for awhile ....
Dominic on May 13, 2014
3
Dont respond to this guy, this is what troll's want.
Rock n Rollllll on May 14, 2014
4
Well , how else will a troll learn , if you can't show him why he's wrong ? I grant you it's not the same audience as Wolverine say . Or Hulk . But Gambit's books sold well for awhile . Might have been more of a Creative issue that kept him from being insanely popular . Some heroes are better in a team-up anyway , rather than on their own . Like Iceman or Beast ...
Dominic on May 15, 2014
5
BOOOOO!!!
Rob on May 13, 2014
6
Channing Tatum gets a bad rap sometimes, but I think he's pretty good usually. I figure that as long as the character is kept light and a little off-balance, then that'll do, Channing, that'll do...
Justin Giddings on May 13, 2014
7
Oh and more great news, I heard rumors Kellan Lutz is in negotiations to play Cyclops in X-Men Apocaylspe. Fox has their eyes also on blockbuster queen Megan Fox herself for the role of Jean Gray. As these characters will be younger as the timeline is set in the past.
Cocaino Weaver on May 13, 2014
8
Oh great. You're still around.
blargh on May 13, 2014
9
Sorry just came back recently from my long spiritual journey to find my inner soul. It was a mystifying and trippy experience. I now realize how precious life really can be.
Cocaino Weaver on May 13, 2014
10
And they say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.
blargh on May 13, 2014
11
Dumb.
Rock n Rollllll on May 13, 2014
12
I am actually a fan of Tatum. He definitely possesses a gift for comedy which could work in Gambits favour. Especially when interacting with characters like Cyclops and Wolvie. And he has had some great turns in drama that people seem to forget like Guide to Recognizing Your Saints and Fighting (very underrated film). I can understand the fear that he can't change his speech pattern because he has never tried before (The Eagle was a mess) but I think that he can get that Cajun sound if he tries. I am going to remain optimistic about this casting. For now...
Maxx on May 13, 2014
14
I like Tatum. And he can certainly play the cockiness & (attempted) suave attitude of Gambit. There's worse actors that could play the Cajun... So color me interested.
VAharleywitch on May 13, 2014
15
well that sucks.
Angry Leon on May 13, 2014
16
hope he pulls this off
Quynh Truong on May 13, 2014
17
Eh - well, I still think Josh Holloway is my dream Gambit casting, but Tatum should do fine - maybe Gambit will be more than a bit part this time due to this.
avconsumer2 on May 13, 2014
18
The guy is too old to play Gambit. Gambit is a young and vigorous character.
Rock n Rollllll on May 14, 2014
19
Eh... depends on the timeline. But yeah, for the young version, I suppose he is a bit "long in the tooth".
avconsumer2 on May 14, 2014
20
Give a piece of wood a gambit costume and you pretty much have the same thing as casting Tatum
ListenToVinyl on May 13, 2014
21
Actually he's pretty good. Not my choice for Gambit, but he's not the crap actor I expected when I first saw him showing up.
OfficialJab on May 13, 2014
22
If nothing else, this will be interesting. Tatum will be better than Kitsch, which was probably more of the director's fault than Kitsch's.
DAVIDPD on May 13, 2014
23
Like him, but can't see him slim and agile as Gambit, but I am most often wrong and surprised by what they can do in movie land.
mooreworthy on May 13, 2014
24
Why on earth Tatum...? Why...?
ali3000 on May 14, 2014
25
I like the choice. I can see this...at least its not Ryan Reynolds, right?
SteadyEddieTX on May 14, 2014
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