The Playlist reports Channing Tatum wanted to co-direct the X-Men spin-off Gambit.
Channing Tatum’s long-developing Gambit film hit another roadblock after X-Men franchise producer Lauren Shuler Donner confirmed the project was in the hands of Disney, who is set to close their acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets this year. The project was planned to feature Channing Tatum in the titular role and recent reports indicated the actor had hoped to helm the film himself. Now, The Playlist reportedly confirmed Channing Tatum wanted to co-direct with his producing partner Reid Carolin, who collaborated with Tatum on the Magic Mike films. The duo had previously tried to court Steven Soderbergh to direct the film, but he turned them down.
Fox is set to release two X-Men films before Disney acquires the assets and Dark Phoenix will be first of these projects.
In DARK PHOENIX, the X-MEN face their most formidable and powerful foe: one of their own, Jean Grey. During a rescue mission in space, Jean is nearly killed when she is hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. Wrestling with this entity inside her, Jean unleashes her powers in ways she can neither comprehend nor contain. With Jean spiraling out of control, and hurting the ones she loves most, she begins to unravel the very fabric that holds the X-Men together. Now, with this family falling apart, they must find a way to unite — not only to save Jean’s soul, but to save our very planet from aliens who wish to weaponize this force and rule the galaxy.
Directed by Simon Kinberg, Dark Phoenix stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Evan Peters, and Jessica Chastain.
Dark Phoenix will be released in theaters on June 7, 2019.
Source: The Playlist
