Deadpool and Wolverine's Shawn Levy was "one of 40 directors" who held talks over Channing Tatum's canceled Gambit movie
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In a twist of fate, Deadpool and Wolverine’s Shawn Levy was once in talks to direct the canceled Gambit movie – years before Channing Tatum finally made his debut as the card-dealing X-Men member.
“Eight, 10 years ago, I was one of probably 40 directors who met with Channing to direct the Gambit movie,” Levy revealed on the director’s commentary forDeadpool and Wolverine.
“Ultimately, no one got that job and the movie never quite happened. So, to give this moment to Channing and to realize instantly, ‘Oh wow, this guy has been readying for this his whole life.’… was a crazy magic trick.”
For his part, Tatum also addressed the previous discussions with Levy during the newDisneyPlus ‘Assembled’ Deadpool and Wolverine making-of documentary.
“Shawn I’ve met a couple of times to possibly direct Gambit when I was attached to it at Fox,” Tatum said. “So they called me about this one, and I couldn’t even believe it. I thought they might have been teasing me or joking me.”
“It got swallowed up into Disney by way of Marvel when they bought Fox, and ultimately I just think that the tone of the movie we wanted to make was very far from what they wanted to do – or, you know, maybe they’re waiting to see how they do it with us or without us,” Tatum toldVanity Fairlast year.
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Since then, of course, Gambit has made a revival on the big-screen – despite his Deadpool and Wolverine post-credits scene being cut forfeeling too much like “traditional Marvel.”
Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds has evenshouted from the rooftops about Tatum’s Gambit, suggesting that Marvel finally understands what they’ve got with his version of the character.
“I honestly don’t know what goes on behind closed doors in the bookkeeping sessions at Marvel, but I do know that they’re obsessed with him in that role,” Reynolds toldEntertainment Weekly.Deadpool & Wolverine is out now on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD, and Limited Edition Steelbook.
For more, check out theupcoming Marvel moviesheaded your way soon. Then catch up on the story so far with theMarvel timelineand how to watch theMarvel movies in order.
I’m the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you’ll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.
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