The actor who was initially set to play the titular hero reportedly leaves the 'X-Men' spin-off which centers on the card-playing superhero.
- Jul 29, 2015
AceShowbiz - After setting a start date, "Gambit (2016)" is now suffering a major setback. Channing Tatum, the leading actor who will play the titular hero, has reportedly dropped out of the 20th Century Fox film.
A source tells TheWrap that the deal between Tatum and the studio is in serious jeopardy and may fall apart. Tatum and his creative partner Reid Carolin were initially set to produce the movie. However, it is not clear whether the producing duo will still be involved in producing capacity, or whether Simon Kinberg and Lauren Shuler Donner will move forward without the help of any other producers.
Representatives for Fox and Tatum could not immediately be contacted for comment. Latest news said that the "Magic Mike" actor had been involved with screentests for the film's female lead with Lea Seydoux ("Blue is the Warmest Color") in the contention. Other sources close to the film's crew suggest that director Rupert Wyatt will soon have to find a new leading man.
As of now, plot and cast details of the film are still scarce. "Gambit" is set to hit U.S. theaters on October 7, 2016 following the release of "X-Men: Apocalypse" on May 27, 2016.
Tatum will next be seen in this Christmas release "The Hateful Eight", in which he stars alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell. The 35-year-old actor will also co-star George Clooney and Scarlett Johansson in "Hail Caesar" which will arrive in the U.S. on February 5, 2016.
