It's beginning to feel as though GAMBIT just doesn't want to be made; the latest X-MEN spin-off was originally set to be released in theaters this fall, but after Rupert Wyatt (RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES) departed the project last year and was replaced by EDGE OF TOMORROW director Doug Liman, Fox removed the film from their schedule. Production on GAMBIT was still supposed to kick off this spring but now THR reports that the beginning of production has been pushed back until late 2016.
The outlet reports that rewrites are to blame for this latest delay, but that Doug Liman will be using the delay to head on over to Amazon Studios to direct their first feature-film. Liman is currently in negotiations to direct THE WALL, a psychological thriller written by Dwain Worrell which tells the tale of a sniper and his spotter who are pinned down behind cover by a legendary sniper. THE WALL is being described as small-scale in nature, so Doug Liman is planning on shooting the film in late spring/early summer before returning to pre-production on GAMBIT later in the year.
GAMBIT will star Channing Tatum in the title role, and although Lea Seydoux (SPECTRE) had been attached to play Belladonna Bourdreaux, THR reports that her current involvement with the project is unknown. Meanwhile, the next film in the X-MEN franchise will be X-MEN: APOCALYPSE which will hit theaters on May 27, 2016.