When the idea for a ‘Gambit‘ movie was first on Fox’s radar, it was director Rupert Wyatt who was in charge of it. While we’ve heard various directions that Channing Tatum’s team has wanted to take the film, Wyatt had something a bit more original in mind. It was going to be “a heist film” which isn’t a surprise but the idea was for the film to take place in the ’70s. This would have radically altered aspects of the character and made him a bit more difficult to insert into later “X-Men” movies if that was ever on the table.
According to Wyatt:
“[A heist film] of a sort. I mean it was a period film. It dealt with the 70s up until the present day. It was about kind of mutant gangs and the notion of what it means to belong, tribalism in this bayou-like environment. The swamps of New Orleans. So it would’ve been a lot of fun. I know Channing sort of worked on the script to make it into more of a romantic comedy, I think. Which I read and it was great, it was very different to what I was involved in. But now Disney have the reins, so I don’t know what their plans are.”
With Disney controlling the franchise, it is probable that the entire mutant landscape is going to be rebooted outside of Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and highly unlikely that any of the ideas from Fox will carry over into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
RELATED: Here’s Why Rupert Wyatt’s Iteration Of ‘Gambit’ Never Happened
As to why the movie never happened? It was a lower budget restriction thanks to the flop that of the ‘Fantastic Four’ reboot:
“Fantastic Four came out, did not do very well for Fox, [and] they decided to lower our budget. We were 12 weeks out, we couldn’t recover. The script needed a huge amount of rewriting in order to fit that budget, and ultimately the powers that be chose not to go down that road, so the film didn’t happen. And then, of course, whatever happened after me with other directors, I have no idea. What I do know is that Channing Tatum and his producing partner Reid Carolin had an amazing idea of what that movie was going to be, and Josh Zeutemer, the writer, as well. It was terrific, it was a really exciting sort of Godfather with mutants set in the world of New Orleans with different gangs.”
Since Wyatt’s departure, multiple directors had tried to tackle a ‘Gambit’ movie and have left for various reasons. It seems unlikely that any iteration will now be made with the rights back at Marvel Studios, but anything is possible.
Are you glad that Rupert Wyatt’s take on ‘Gambit’ had never happened or does his idea sound like a breath of fresh air for the “X-Men” franchise? Share your thoughts in the comments below, True Believers!
Source: Collider
