Lizzy Caplan reveals Channing Tatum's scrapped Gambit film was envisioned as a '30s screwball romantic comedy within the superhero genre.
In a recent interview with Business Insider, Caplan, who was slated to star opposite Tatum, described the abandoned project as possessing "a really cool idea." The film, initially planned before the 2019 Disney-Fox merger, ultimately fell apart, leaving Tatum reportedly "traumatized" by the experience. His subsequent surprise cameo as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine marked a surprising return to the character after years of setbacks.
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Caplan confirmed her involvement in the project as far back as 2017, stating that she signed on and even participated in pre-production meetings with Tatum. "We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it," she shared. "I think there was a start date.”
Producer Simon Kinberg previously hinted at the film's comedic direction in 2018, telling IGN it would have a "romantic or sex comedy vibe," aligning with Gambit's character traits. "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."
Caplan corroborated this vision, stating, "They wanted to do, like, a '30s kind of screwball romantic comedy set in that world, which would have been really fun."
The future of Tatum's Gambit remains uncertain, though Marvel Studios has confirmed the X-Men's impending arrival in the MCU. Last August, Ryan Reynolds' tweet of a high-quality version of a previously unclear Deadpool & Wolverine scene fueled further speculation among fans.
Warning! Spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine follow.
