WillGambitbe able to keep it’sOctober 2016release date? That’s the question on everyone’s mind as 20th Century Fox furiously searches for a director to take over theChanning TatumX-Menspinoff. All eyes are now onDoug Liman.Rupert Wyattabandoned the movie about a card-throwing mutant earlier in the year, citing creative differences.
Gambit is still holding onto its July 05, 2025 release date. Barely. Things need to move fast for that to still happen. And the studio has gone through a whirlwind of directing choices, but it’s been notoriously hard to find anyone who wants to attach themselves to thisCajun superheroadventure. But now, it looks likeDoug Limanmay be ready to accept an offer. If you’re not familiar with the name, he’s the man behind the sleeper hitEdge of TomorrowstarringTom Cruise. And he recently reunited with the actor for the upcoming drug smuggling dramaMena. He’s attached to an adaptation of the video gameSplinter Cell. Other directorial efforts includeJumper,Mr. and Mrs. SmithandThe Bourne Identity.
Doug Limanis in final negotiations with the studio following several meetings about the project. The last one took place this past Thursday. It has been acknowledged that bothMr. and Mrs. SmithandThe Bourne Identitywere troubled productions, and while they did good box office, both films had to be saved in post-production. Gambit is an instance where the film needs to be saved in pre-production.
The director’s recent work onMenahas proven that he is capable of pulling off such a feat. And everyone involved withEdge of Tomorrowwas happy with the end results, even if the title of the film proved to be troubling.Simon Kinberg, who worked withDoug LimanonMr. and Mrs. Smith, has a friendly working relationship with the director, and is said to have a lot of input into the behind-the-scenes development of Gambit. He is believed to be exercising a strong hand in delivering the pictureFoxwants. And he’s also credited for being one of the reasons whyRupert Wyattbailed on the project.
Other directors considered for Gambit includedF. Gary Gray(Straight Outta Compton),Joe Cornish(Attack the Block) andShane Black(Iron Man 3).Rupert Wyattnotoriously backed out of the movie this past September, saying that he had a ‘scheduling conflict’. But sources close to the production claim that theRise of the Planet of the Apesdirector feared he was signing on for something that just wasn’t going to be very good.
That’s not hard to believe. Gambit certainly has a strange premise. And fans did not gravitate to the character first introduced on the big screen in 2009’sX-Men Origins: Wolverine.Taylor Kitschfirst played the New Orleans-based Mutant. The superhero has the power to manipulate kinetic energy, and often usesplaying cardsagainst his victims, throwing them and turning them into tiny bombs mid-air. He is also known for fighting with his Bo staff. So, what do you think? CanDoug Limanrescue this sinking superhero project? Or is this just another disaster waiting to happen?
