Channing Tatum met with X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner to discuss the possibility of playing the X-Men supehero Gambit, the actor confirmed to MTV. Tatum has made no secret of his desire to play the mutant thief, and it seems that the X-Men filmmakers are actively looking for someone to take on the role.
In a recent interview, X-Men: Days of Future Past director Bryan Singer let slip that he’d like to bring in more mutants for the next X-Men film, tentatively titled X-Men: Apocalypse and due for release in 2016. Singer went on to mention the characters Nightcrawler and Gambit as being among those he’d like to bring in. In September 2013, long before another X-Men film was being openly discussed, Tatum publicly stated that he would love to play Gambit. The recent meeting is a far cry from Tatum actually being offered the role, but he did confirm that he met specifically to discuss his taking on the role.
“I met with Lauren Shuler Donner. And I would love it,” Tatum said when asked about the possibility of his appearing as the character. “Gambit is really the only X-Man I’ve ever loved. I mean I’ve loved them all, they’re all great, but I guess from being down south – my dad’s from Louisiana, I’m from Mississippi, Alabama, Florida – I don’t know. I just related to him.”
Whether or not Tatum is cast as Gambit, it does seem to suggest that the studio is actively considering recasting the role. The character Gambit was first introduced to the X-Men film universe in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, where he was played by Taylor Kitsch.
“He’s just kind of suave… He’s the most un X-Men X-Man that’s ever been in X-Men. Other than maybe Wolverine, who’s like the anti-hero,” Tatum said. “He’s a thief. He’s not even a hero. He’s kind of walking the line of grey…He loves women and drinking and smoking and stuff so he’s just a cool guy who happens to have a moral center….I hope it [comes together]. You never know, it’s a weird industry. If the stars align, I would die to play it. I’m already working on the accent. It’s crappy at the moment.”
If offered the part, Tatum will have to find a way to fit it into an increasingly packed scheduled. Earlier this year, the actor lent his voice to The Lego Movie, and he features into no fewer than four movies releasing later this year. He will soon be seen starring in the Wachowski’s Jupiter Ascending, the sequel 22 Jump Street with Jonah Hill, he’ll lend voice to the animated Book of Life, and he stars in the upcoming Foxcatcher, which is set to premiere at Cannes in May. He is also currently co-writing a sequel to 2012’s Magic Mike.
