Gambit had originally been set for a 2016 release, but when Rupert Wyatt left the project due to creative differences, a lengthy search began for his replacement. It was recently reported that Doug Liman was set to sign on the dotted line, but the wait was not without consequences as the X-Men spin-off has had to be pushed back.
Speaking with Collider before Liman's involvement was announced, producer Simon Kinberg stated: "We have a director in and I don’t know if I’m allowed to say who it is yet because his deal isn’t done, but it’s somebody we’re excited about, and somebody I adore, and hopefully we can make an announcement soon about that. But we’ve been spending a lot of time together—Channing, [Reid Carolin, Tatum’s producing partner], [screenwriter Joshua Zetumer], the director, and myself—just working on the script, and we hope to start shooting next spring."
The key soundbite there is that Gambit will be "shooting next Spring", meaning there's no way it will be able to make its October 2016 release date. When it does eventually reach cinemas, Kinberg promises that the film "will have its own flavour and tone to it, and will be more of like a heist movie and a sexy thriller in a way." Starring Tatum and Léa Seydoux, Gambit will likely be hitting cinemas in 2017.
