For a moment there last week, it was looking like Channing Tatum was considering leaving GAMBIT. The rumor was talks between Tatum and Fox had gone south, however negotiations were still ongoing, and now THR is reporting that the actor has officially signed a deal to star as the card-flinging mutant in the X-Men spinoff film.
But it doesn't appear as if the project was ever actually in danger of losing its star. Sources tell the site that "Tatum and the studio did hit a sensitive spot in negotiations, but such back-and-forth is a normal part of top-level talent dealmaking." THR goes on to say that his backend compensation needed to be figured out, as well as "the extent of Tatum’s involvement in the X-Men universe," comparing his Gambit role to Hugh Jackman's Wolverine as "someone who would anchor his own movies and appear in numerous others." Unfortunately, there's no word on the length of his contract with Fox.
So although he never really left, Channing Tatum is back on as Gambit. Rupert Wyatt will reportedly start shooting GAMBIT this fall, and the film is set to open on October 7, 2016.
