20th Century Fox have big plans for a Gambit film, centered on the X-Men's favorite mutant thief. That was apparent from the moment producer Lauren Shuler Donner began suggesting Channing Tatum for the role, and now that he's confirmed to play the "Ragin' Cajun", details about the film are beginning to emerge. Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) came board to direct, and Showbiz411 says filming will begin this October in New Orleans, so they aren't wasting any time.
A casting call sheet has also been revealed, and while these are almost certainly cover names for these characters, the descriptions suggest many of them could be members of the Thieves or Assassins Guild.
Louis– Male, any ethnicity, 40s-50s. Elegant and intelligent. An appealing entrepreneur with an unexpected
dark side.
Vera– Female, any ethnicity, mid 20s – early 30s. Beautiful, smart, tough, fiery and unpredictable.
Wes– Male, any ethnicity, mid 20s – mid 30s. Aspirational but weak minded. Soulful and sensitive.
Fritz– Male, any ethnicity, 40s – 50s. A professional thief. Charismatic con-artist. Warm hearted but untrustworthy.
Nash– Male, any ethnicity, mid 20s – early 30s. A potent threat. Heir to his mother’s business. Malevolent.
Willhelm– Male, any ethnicity, 30s. Dangerous street criminal. Protective and loyal to his family. Intensely loyal and violent.
Gary– Male, any ethnicity, mid 20s – early 30s. A little simple; dim-witted and passive.
Nonna—Female, any ethnicity, mid 20s – 30 years old.
Uptight, corporate, vicious, sexual.
Joe– Male, any ethnicity, 30s. He’s a gun for hire. He is the black sheep of his family. Not from good breeding but from a working class family.
Ben–Male, any ethnicity, 20s. Just reaching adulthood. A street kid, a disaffected outsider, an orphan.
Boris–Male, Hispanic, 20s. Charming, handsome, and dangerous..
Clarissa– Female, mixed race, 10 – 12 years old. Ethereal and other worldly. Very expressive.
Wolfgang– Male, authentic French, 40s. A French criminal. Must speak fluent French.
Howard– Male, Caucasian. 50s. A refined European mobster who speaks fluent French.
Gambit, aka Remy Lebeau, was raised as a member of the Thieves Guild which is where his gift for thievery was honed. The two sides are constantly feuding, with Gambit often caught in the middle. Since this is beginning to look like an origin story, it's likely we'll see at least something of his time in the Guild, and possibly even his marriage to Bella Donna, a high-ranking member of the Assassins Guild.With a budget reportedly set for $154M, a hefty sum that exceeds the cost of The Wolverine, it's clear Fox has intentions of making Gambit a major part of their X-Men franchise. Perhaps they're looking for a character to replace Wolverine now that Hugh Jackman is on his way out after The Wolverine 3.
Gambit hits theaters on October 7th 2016.
