20th Century Fox has been under the gun to find a replacement director for Gambit after Rupert Wyatt stepped down months back. Last month a short list of filmmakers emerged for the X-Men spinoff; a list that included F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton), Joe Cornish (Attack the Block), and Shane Black (Iron Man 3), and star Channing Tatum's choice, Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman. And since Tatum is the face of this project and likely the franchise, he's getting exactly who he wants.
According to THR, Liman is in final talks to direct Gambit, which will have Tatum starring alongside Spectre's Lea Seydoux. Josh Zetumer wrote the screenplay based on an idea by Gambit creator and X-Men legend, Chris Claremont, but details on the plot remain under wraps. It's expected to be an origin story, however, and will include Gambit's former love, Bella Donna, played by Seydoux.
It appeared that Liman's busy schedule would hold him back from being able to take the job. He's recently wrapped on the Tom Cruise-led drug smuggling thriller, Mena, and has been looking to team with Cruise again on Edge of Tomorrow 2 and the sci-fi film, Luna Park.
Gambit opens next year on October 7th.
