Doug Liman explains why he departed Gambit

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

Sometimes there are movies that feel as though they just don't want to get made, and I would definitely place Twentieth Century Fox's GAMBIT on that list. The X-MEN spinoff set to star Channing Tatum has had its share of issues, and although the latest news from the production seems to indicate that the project is back in active development, I still feel like GAMBIT is one of those "I'll believe it when I see it" deals. GAMBIT was originally set to be directed by Rupert Wyatt (RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES), before he left the project and was replaced by Doug Liman, who also wound up leaving in order to direct JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK. What's it going to take until the Cajun mutant gets his own movie?

Former GAMBIT director Doug Liman spoke with Collider recently and explained just why he had to leave the X-MEN spinoff behind.

I never formed a connection. Many of these movies, I don’t have the connection on day one, but I find the connection. I just never found it. I don’t always find a connection. I want to make a movie that, if anybody else made it, it would be different. When I went to make Swingers, I showed the script to a friend of mine, and she said, ‘Why would you want to make this movie? The Trent character’ – who was played by Vince Vaughn – ‘is totally unlikeable.’ I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I love Trent! That’s the reason I’m making this movie!’ She was like, ‘You’re crazy! He’s totally unlikeable!’ And then, I made the movie and she saw the movie, and she was like, ‘You’re right, he is likeable.’ And then, I went to make Go and I showed the script to the same friend, and she said, ‘I don’t know why you’d make this movie. Nobody in this film is likeable!’ Right in that moment, it clicked. I was like, ‘I get it! I need to make Go, for the same reason that I needed to make Swingers. Somebody else making Swingers might have made Vince Vaughn’s character into an asshole and been judgmental about him.’ My specific take on that character is what the audience then took away, so I knew that I needed to make Go because my version of Go celebrated those characters instead of being judgmental of them. I knew that everybody would like those characters because I liked them.

Fair enough. The last thing we need is another passionless X-MEN movie, and if GAMBIT ever is to see the light of day, I'd much rather the studio take their time and snag someone who can successfully find the voice of Remy LeBeau. Several months ago X-MEN franchise producer Simon Kinberg said that he hoped that GAMBIT would be ready to go by the end of the year and shooting would get underway in early 2018. Like I said, I'll believe it when I see it.

Doug Liman has been in the news more than a few times today, including spilling a few small details about JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK and revealing that the script has been completed for the EDGE OF TOMORROW sequel, to be titled LIVE DIE REPEAT AND REPEAT, and that both Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt will be returning.

Sound off below, who do you hope winds up in the GAMBIT director's chair?