Channing Tatum's long-awaited portrayal of the fan-favorite X-Men character Gambit was set to take a unique turn with a '30s screwball romantic comedy vibe within the superhero universe, as revealed by actress Lizzy Caplan. In an interview with Business Insider, the Cloverfield star shared insights into the now-canceled Gambit movie, describing it as having "a really cool idea." Caplan was slated to star alongside Tatum in the film, which promised a fresh and engaging take on the beloved character.

Tatum's journey to bring Gambit to life has been fraught with challenges, culminating in the project's cancellation following the 2019 Disney-Fox merger. Despite the setbacks, Tatum's dedication to the role persisted, leading to a surprise cameo as Gambit in the blockbuster MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine. The actor has openly discussed the emotional toll of the project's demise, admitting to being "traumatized" by the experience and fearing he would never get the chance to portray the card-wielding mutant.

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Caplan, who was confirmed to play the female lead as early as 2017, shared with Business Insider that the project had reached an advanced stage. "We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it," she stated, indicating that a start date had been set. The film's unique direction was further elaborated by producer Simon Kinberg in 2018, who told IGN that the movie would embrace a "romantic or sex comedy vibe" due to Gambit's charismatic and flirtatious nature. "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."

Seven years on, Caplan reaffirmed the film's intended tone, saying, "They wanted to do, like, a '30s kind of screwball romantic comedy set in that world, which would have been really fun." This vision highlights the potential for a refreshing and entertaining take on the superhero genre.

As for the future of Tatum and Gambit, Marvel Studios has remained silent, although they have confirmed the eventual integration of the X-Men into the MCU. Last August, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds sparked speculation among Gambit fans by tweeting a high-quality version of a scene from Deadpool & Wolverine that was difficult to discern in theaters.

Warning! Deadpool & Wolverine spoilers follow.