Just three months after he signed on todirect20th Century Fox’sGambit, starringChanning Tatum,Deadlinereports thatRupert Wyatthas backed away from the project. Production was originally scheduled to start in November, but filming has recently shifted to start in March, which conflicted with an unspecified project forRupert Wyatt. Here’s what the filmmaker had to say in a brief statement about why he is leaving.
“I was very much looking forward to working with my friendChanningand the team at Fox, but regrettably a push in the start date now conflicts with another project. I thank them for the opportunity, and I know thatGambitwill make a terrific film.”
The site reports that 20th Century Fox is quickly trying to find a replacement director, but it isn’t clear if the studio has a specific filmmaker in mind. Back in January, the studio set an October 7, 2016release dateforGambit, but if production is shifting to March, it seems unlikely that date will be hit. As of now,Gambitis going up against Warner Bros.‘The Accountantand Universal’sMonster High. However, even if the studio does find a directorial replacement soon, it me be very difficult to hit that October 7 release date, if shooting starts just seven months earlier.
Léa Seydouxis set to star as thefemale lead, Belladonna Boudreaux. The actress beat out others such asRebecca Ferguson(Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation) andAbbey Lee(Mad Max: Fury Road) for the role. In the comics, Remy LeBeau (Channing Tatum) was Belladona Boudreax’s first love. They had an arranged marriage to unite the Thieves Guild, which Remy was a part of, and the Assassin’s Guild, which Belladonna’s father was the leader of.
The marriage never happened, as Remy was forced to flee New Orleans. Belladona went on to get her own super powers, the ability to shoot plasma blasts.Joshua Zetumer(RoboCop) wrote the screenplay, but there isn’t much we know for sure about the story. Are you disappointed thatRupert Wyattwon’t be directingGambit?
