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 film's concept as "a really cool idea." Tatum's long-pursued ambition to portray the popular X-Men character appeared thwarted before his surprise cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine. The project was ultimately shelved following the 2019 Disney-Fox merger, leaving Tatum reportedly "traumatized" by the experience.

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Caplan confirmed her commitment to the project as early as 2017, detailing meetings and preparations with Tatum. "We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it," she stated. "I think there was a start date.”

Producer Simon Kinberg previously hinted at the film's comedic tone in a 2018 IGN interview, describing it as having a "romantic or sex comedy vibe," aligning with Gambit's character traits. "When you look at Gambit," Kinberg explained, "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."

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, though Marvel Studios has confirmed the X-Men's imminent arrival in the MCU. Last August, Ryan Reynolds' tweet of a clarified Deadpool & Wolverine scene fueled further speculation among Gambit fans.

Warning! Deadpool & Wolverine spoilers follow.