Channing Tatum will play Marvel mutant Gambit in a forthcoming X-Men spinoff movie, producer Lauren Shuler Donner confirmed to Total Film this week. Tatum – who stars in 22 Jump Street later this year – had previously expressed an interest in the role.
Gambit, a Marvel mutant with the ability to mentally create, control and manipulate kinetic energy, was born Remy Etienne LeBeau. He was previously played by Taylor Kitsch in X-Men Origins: Wolverine – probably the worst movie in the franchise.
“It is Channing,” Donner confirmed, “He’s a rogue, he’s a rascal, just like Remy LeBeau. And 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.”
The latest X-Men movie Days of Future Past, with Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman and James McAvoy hits theaters on May 23. On the whole, reviews have been pretty strong.
