Earlier in the week we heard that Channing Tatum was going to exit the upcoming Fox film Gambit.
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While precise information on Tatum’s contend with Fox are uncertain, markedly some money was also definitely a concern, having the actor’s backend comp-plan a “sticking point”, and his overall resolve for the authorize.
Tatum had reportedly been screen-testing with potential female leads for the film this week – a pool of actresses said to include Spectre actress Lea Seydoux – and his representatives acknowledged that now “something is up” in the actor’s discussions with the studio.
The Gambit film is set to be directed by Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ Rupert Wyatt, based on a treatment by original Gambit creator Chris Claremont and a screenplay by Josh Zetumer.
THR reported that negotiations for the role hit some snags along the way, which might have sparked the rumors.
But with regards to how Gambit fits into the X-Men universe, the trade reports the studio sees the kinetically charged mutant as becoming a new anchor in the X-Men film franchise, not unlike Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in almost all of the X-Men movies, except First Class where he only had a cameo. No doubt they’re counting on Gambit to cary that weight, and that means anyone signing on for the role is entering into a huge, multi-picture commitment.
One thing that needed figuring out was the extent of Tatum’s involvement in the X-Men universe. “We kind of want to introduce this character in a very different way”.
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On a larger scale, this is a big knock to the expansion of the X-Men franchise.
