Gambit is just one of those X-Men spinoffs that has yet to enter production. The film has been in the development stage ever since they found Channing Tatum to play the title role. But one of the major problems is that the project has been unable to lock a director down.

Rupert Wyatt and Doug Liman were both tapped to helm during separate occasions, but both left for their own reasons. However, it’s beginning to look like Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski might be the one to steer the ship. More on the story below.

The Hollywood Reporter says that Verbinski is only in talks to direct the film about the Ragin’ Cajun. When Fox announced their X-Men lineup back in 2015, it included titles like X-Men: Apocalypse, Deadpool, Logan, and Gambit – where Tatum made a surprise appearance. However, we are well past that point now, even further past the fact that the start date has been pushed back.

In fact, the last time we heard anything of any significance for Gambit was last November. At that time the film had been pulled off of its release date, which was supposed to be October 2016.

Now that Fox has found success with Deadpool and Logan, Fox may be looking at a more mature take on the New Orleans mutant. Then there is the fact that they want to make a Gambit that is not only an X-Men movie but a genre one as well. Deadpool being a superhero comedy, Logan being a contemporary western. Considering that Gambit is a part of the Guild of Thieves in the comics, the title film could have a heist element to it. But that is just speculation.

But if Fox is looking to make Gambit a little bit more family friendly, then they found a great director in Verbinski. He was behind the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies, The Lone Ranger, and Rango. But A Cure For Wellness proved that he could also take on darker material. And a lot of his films are full of intense visuals. Which makes Verbinski perfect to take on a character who uses kinetic energy to turn an ordinary deck of playing cards into explosive weapons.

Simon Kinberg, Tatum, and his partner Reid Carolin are among those producing Gambit.

Fox has yet to announce the new release date.

[Source: THR]