Getting a movie made around the comic book character Gambit has been one of the great production nightmares of the genre, with plenty of doubt cast that the thing may never get made. But, the light is starting to shine through the clouds, and we are closer than ever to seeing production start on the movie starring Channing Tatum. In fact, producer Simon Kinberg (DARK PHOENIX) has revealed the tone of the movie, saying it will have a "romantic or sex comedy vibe.”
The filmmaker was speaking with IGN about the movie, and he said that the very nature of Gambit is what lends the movie a more romantic tone than past X-Men-related movies.
"When you look at Gambit, he’s a hustler and a womanizer and we just felt like there was an attitude, a swagger to him, that leant itself to romantic comedy."
He continued, saying the goal of other movies like DEADPOOL and LOGAN has been to let the character dictate the tone of the movie. “Deadpool was an R-rated, raunchy comedy, Logan was a western, Gambit’s gonna be a romantic comedy, and New Mutants is very decidedly a horror film," he said.
But don’t worry, Kinberg assures GAMBIT won’t be like a Jennifer Aniston movie but with more special effects, just like LOGAN wasn’t an episode of GUNSMOKE with more F-bombs.
"You know, when I say romantic comedy, I use that term loosely, in the same term that I use the term western for Logan loosely. It’s not like they’re gunslingers at high noon in Logan. It’s just a vibe. And I would say the vibe of Gambit has a romantic or sex comedy vibe to it. While it is also still very much a superhero movie with villains and heroes, as all these movies are."
As for when the movie could start, he says the script is done and they are hoping to start production early next year.
So far movies like DEADPOOL and LOGAN have been wildly successful, so no matter how silly "Gambit will be a romantic comedy" may sound in comment sections, I say let Kinberg and his team keep doing what they're doing. These characters are all so unique, so to let them flourish in a movie that feels unique to them makes sense, as opposed to just sticking them in your average origin tale. Plus, who says a superhero can't rush to the airport before the love of their life leaves forever? Everyone deserves love!
You can catch Kinberg's directorial effort X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX on February 14, 2019.