Back in September we reported that there was rumblings in regards to Channing Tatum playing Gambit . Now that Tatum is somewhat freed up from his busy schedule, he may just be inching closer to portraying the X-Men favorite.
Over the last few months , whenever Gambit was brought up in conversation Channing was more than willing to talk about how much he’s ready to take the challenge, even if it wasn’t a done deal. Apparently his enthusiasm got to the right people, and Tatum is moving forward in his bid to play the card-throwing, womanizing Cajun.
Channing revealed in an interview at the MTV Movie Awards that Gambit is definitely on the table , and that he’s already met with X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner about taking on the role, as well as working on his accent.
“Gambit is really the only X-Man I’ve ever loved. I mean I’ve loved them all, they’re all great, but I guess from being down south – my dad’s from Louisiana, I’m from Mississippi, Alabama, Florida – I don’t know. I just related to him. He’s just kind of suave… He’s the most un X-Men X-Man that’s ever been in X-Men. Other than maybe Wolverine, who’s like the anti-hero. He’s a thief. He’s not even a hero. He’s kind of walking the line of grey…He loves women and drinking and smoking and stuff so he’s just a cool guy who happens to have a moral center.”
Although it looks like a go, Tatum does acknowledge that the business can be a weird industry and that it may not even happen, even if he would like it to.
“I hope it [comes together]. You never know it’s a weird industry. If the stars align, I would die to play it. I’m already working on the accent. It’s crappy at the moment.”
The only other person that had a chance to play Gambit was Taylor Kitsch for X-Men Origins: Wolverine , and nobody was really impressed by that turn.
It makes sense that Channing Tatum would be a serious contender for the role. The X-Men movies are popcorn flicks, and while there’s real tangible stories in the franchise, 20th Century Fox is big on making bank, and if there’s any lead star that has emerged as a cash cow in recent years, it’s certainly Tatum.
X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner, who Tatum has met about the role, seems to be ready to place Channing as Gambit . Back in January she told Empire:
“I’m dying to do a Gambit movie with Channing Tatum. That doesn’t have to be a great big movie. It’s a thief in New Orleans, it’s a whole different story. He’s on board, and I have to get the studio on board. How can anyone resist Channing? He’s such a sweetheart.”
Instead of a spin off film it looks like Tatum will be placed into the X-Men: Apocalypse film as director Bryan Singer has hinted that he wants to bring Gambit in through that installment.
[Image Credit: Marvel]