Channing Tatum’s Gambit Loses Its Director

It looks as though Rupert Wyatt won’t be directing ‘Gambit’ after all… as the director steps down due to a scheduling clash.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 42-year-old British filmmaker won’t be helming Channing Tatum’s upcoming ‘Gambit’ solo movie.

“One source told [THR] that a changing script caused the film’s budget to be larger than expected, extending the shoot, and prompting the push,” they explained. “Another source said that the shooting schedule around Mardi Gras caused the reshuffling. Either way, it became a conflict for Wyatt, who had to exit.”

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And it wasn’t long before Wyatt himself issued a statement.

“I was very much looking forward to working with my friend Channing and the team at Fox,” he said. “But regrettably a push in the start date now conflicts with another project. I thank them for the opportunity, and I know that Gambit will make a terrific film.”

Of course, ‘Gambit’ is an important film for 20^th Century Fox. With Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine due to hang up his claws after his next solo feature, it seems likely that Fox will push Channing Tatum’s Gambit as a likely replacement.

And with the failure of ‘Fantastic Four’ it seems the studio may need a bit of a morale boost.

On top of this, there were recent rumours that Channing Tatum himself may have been thinking of pulling out of the film – the man who almost single-handedly got the movie off the ground.

But who will step in to take over the troubled superhero movie?

The ‘Gambit’ script is written by Josh Zetumer, based on a treatment by comic book writer and Gambit co-creator Chris Claremont. Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin, Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg are producing.

Channing Tatum will star as Gambit, with Léa Seydoux linked to the role of Bella Donna Boudreaux.

‘Gambit’ heads to cinemas on 7 October 2016.

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Picture Credit: Marvel, WENN