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Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) has left Gambit, the X-Men spinoff set to star Channing Tatum as the card-slinging, Bo staff-wielding mutant who harnesses the power of Kenetic energy.
“I was very much looking forward to working with my friend Channing and the team at Fox,” says Wyatt, “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.”
Wyatt’s departure isn’t the first setback to befall Gambit. Back in July, it was revealed that leading man Channing Tatum was dropping out of the project, although the 21 Jump Street star ended up working out a deal to headline the following month.
Created by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee in 1990, Gambit, a New Orleans native mutant, quickly became a fan favorite due to his kinetic energy manipulation abilities and penchant for stealing. The character’s only big screen appearance to date (outside his name being featured as an Easter egg in X2) was in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, played by Taylor Kitsch.
Gambit features a script by Josh Zemuter, based on a treatment by Chris Claremont. Tatum, Reid Carolin, Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg are producing.
The film was previously scheduled for a release on October 7, 2016 and is set to follow both the X-Men spinoff Deadpool on February 15, 2016 and Bryan Singer’s X-Men: Apocalypse on May 27, 2016.
Agencies/Canadajournal
