The Gambit casting rumors turned out to be true. Back in January, Renegade Cinema reported that Tatum was possibly coming aboard the X-Men franchise. In an interview with Total Film posted on Tuesday, Donner said that they have signed Tatum to join the X-Men franchise.
Producer Lauren Schuler Donner wanted Channing Tatum to play the Cajun mutant, which was something Tatum said he wanted last year. Well, all their dreams are coming true. Check out the interview clip about Tatum below.
For those who can’t watch the video, here is what Donner said:
Well, he’s a rogue, Channing, he’s a rascal, just like Remy LeBeau. And he can handle the action, we all know that. And he’s got a really good heart, because I know him personally, I did a movie [2006’s She’s the Man] 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, he understands that world. And you know Gambit loves New Orleans.
Well, Tatum will be coming aboard quickly because he will join the franchise in time for the 2016 release of X-Men: Apocalypse. The Gambit signing is the first news of the new cast, although Nightcrawler will be returning in that movie as well. Gambit originally appeared in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” played by Taylor Kitsch. Nightcrawler also appeared in the second X-Men movie, played by Alan Cumming.
Gambit is a huge fan favorite for an entire generation of X-Men fans, although there is also another generation who hates him because of the overkill and bad decisions made in the comics towards his character. He is best utilized as an antihero, a mutant that will fight to protect his friends but is really only in it for himself at the end. Just, please leave out the romance with Rouge. That is part of what killed his character in the comics. Whether the Gambit casting of Channing Tatum fits the character is another story.
In added news, Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter tweeted that Gambit will also get his own standalone movie after X-Men: Apocalypse. So, are you excited about the news or does Channing Tatum just not fit the role? Lets chat in the comment section below about the Gambit casting.
