It's official! "Gambit" will hit theaters in 2016.
Well, you heard it right, hunk actor Channing Tatum's movie will be released on October 7 next year, ahead of other Fox movies "Planet of the Apes," "Assassin's Creed," and "Fantastic Four 2," as reported by The Wrap on Monday.
Cinema Blend says that is really good news as it was earlier expected that the movie will hit theaters on a much later date in past 2016.
Channing was confirmed to play the lead role after producer Lauren Shuler-Donner revealed it herself. "It is Channing, yes, yes. He's a rogue, he's a rascal, just like Remy LeBeau. He can handle the action, as we know, and he's got a real good heart, I know him personally. He'll be great for Gambit, and he's a southerner too, he understands that world, and you know Gambit loves New Orleans," she was quoted as saying.
The "22 Jump Street" and "Magic Mike" actor has also admitted that he actually met with Shuler-Donner and that he would "die" to play the "Gambit" role. He revealed that he personally loves the role as he could relate to him and that he loves his being "un X-Man." He describe Gambit as a "suave" and "cool" guy who "walks the line of grey" and loves women, drinking, and smoking. He even gushed that he is already working on his accent. To note, the role was previously played by Canadian actor Taylor Kitsch in the movie "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."
Fox's move to release a standalone movie for Gambit, says Cinema Blend's Mike Reyes, is "aggressive" and "bold" but is quite understandable considering the uncertainty of Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine in the X-Men franchise. He went on to say that since X-Men was indeed a "cash cow" for Fox, it is only logical for them to create a new standalone franchise such as this. Reyes also aired the possibility that a "bigger news" may also pop out in line with the "Gambit" announcement.
Gambit, who is also known as Remy LeBeau, is one of Marvel's X-Men characters. He was created by Marvel Comics writer Chris Claremont and Jim Lee in 1990. Gambit has "the ability to charge matter with volatile kinetic energy, causing the object in question to explosively release its charge on impact." The movie screenplay is reportedly based on Claremont and Lee's treatment of the character in the comics. Further details about the movie have yet to be announced.