What is it about Channing Tatum's standalone Gambit movie that high profile directors just can't seem to commit to?
According to Cinema Blend, Tatum has been trying really hard to get his movie going for quite some time already. He has a script written by Josh Zetumer, who wrote the Robocop remake, and he also has Lauren Schuler Donner and Simon Kinberg ready to produce. The two both have experience working with 20th Century Fox's Marvel properties, so Tatum's Gambit's movie is in good hands.
The only thing he's missing now is the director to handle the story about X-Men's most popular mutant, second only to Wolverine.
Multiple sources have revealed that several directors (four, to be more specific) have already turned down the movie. Both Bennett Miller (who already worked with Tatum in Foxcatcher) and Darren Aronofsky (once tapped to direct The Wolverine) were given first dibs on Gambit, but they both passed on the job.
Next to be tapped was Gareth Evans of The Raid, followed by J.C. Chandor (who wrote and directed A Most Violent Year), but surprisingly, they both turned it down as well.
Having no director to man the movie is a huge problem for the project, especially since the movie has already been given a release date - October 2016. This means that in order for the movie to push through, they need to start filming it immediately.
Gambit's story is quite interesting too, so it really is shocking why directors are not scrambling to get their hands all over it.
The mutant has the ability to mentally create, control, and manipulate pure kinetic energy, based on his liking. He also possesses several incredible skills such as card-throwing, hand-to-hand combat, and battling with the use of a staff. One of his signature moves is throwing playing cards and other objects with kinetic energy, and using these as explosive projectiles.
Before he joined the X-Men, he was actually a part of a thieves' guild, so naturally, most of the members of Professor X's team were distrustful of him. He has quite an intriguing relationship with Rogue, given his playboy side, and the two share an on-again, off-again relationship. Despite being a ladies' man though, every time he is with Rogue, the clever mutant manages to show a softer side to him.
He is extremely proud of his Louisiana heritage and speaks with a thick Cajun accent.
