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Channing Tatum finalises deal to star as Gambit in X-Men spin-off... after fears he had pulled out of project

By Caitlin O'toole and Ross Mcdonagh For Dailymail.com

Published: 17:34 EST, 1 August 2015 | Updated: 19:19 EST, 1 August 2015

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It seems Channing Tatum will be starring in the highly-anticipated Gambit movie after all.

The 35-year-old hunk was allegedly set to walk away from talks to play the card-flinging mutant thief-turned-crime fighter in an upcoming X-Men spin-off.

However, it appears negotiations have been rescued and the Magic Mike star has reached a deal to star in the film, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

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Big fan: Tatum speaks with former head of Marvel Stan Lee, who created many of the company's iconic characters, after their X-Men panel at Comic-Con on July 11

Earlier this week,TheWrap reported the beefcake actor's reps were still in discussions, but added that 'something is up'.

The 22 Jump Street star reportedly hit a snag during negotiations with 20th Century Fox studio over his compensation and the extent of his involvement in any future X-Men or Gambit films.

The studio sees Gambit as a character that could spawn a number of hit movies, similar to Hugh Jackman's Wolverine films, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Looking good: Tatum attends the West End premiere of Magic Mike XXL on June 30. The star has just signed on to play Gambit in a new X-Men spin-off

Tatum has long been attached to the Gambit project as a producer and made a surprise appearance at Fox's X-Men panel at Comic-Con in July.

The Southern-born actor is said to be keen to play the Cajun comic book character.

Gambit, whose real name is Remy LeBeau, is a thief and a ladies man.

What's the deal? Gambit, whose real name is Remy LeBeau, is one of the original X-Men. He can charge objects with kinetic energy and uses this ability to turn playing cards into deadly explosives

He possesses the power to charge objects with kinetic energy, which somehow causes them to become explosive.

His trademark move is to do this with playing cards, which he then throws at enemies with deadly accuracy.

The character was played by former Friday Night Lights actor Taylor Kitsch - who was once tipped to reprise the role - in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine opposite Hugh Jackman.

That film was also Ryan Reynolds' debut as Deadpool.

Quite the characters: Tatum hangs out with Ryan Reynolds, who stars in the upcoming Deadpool movie, at Comic-Con in July

Both Remy and Channing come from America's Deep South. Remy is from New Orleans, Louisiana, while Channing was born in Alabama before moving to Mississippi.

Besides his glowing pink playing cards, long trench coat, bo-staff, finger-less gloves and on/off relationship with Rogue, Gambit's most recognizeable trait is his thick Cajun accent, a long-time point of amusement among comic fans when his speech is written out phonetically.

Tatum confirmed he was set to play the X-man - as well as the impending release date - on Twitter in January when he posted: 'How do you say October 7, 2016 in Cajun?'

The actor told Empire last year that the character was his favourite superhero, adding he was confident he could pull off the OTT accent.

No longer on the cards: The character was played by Taylor Kitsch in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and he was at one stage tipped to reprise the role

'I would like to play Gambit. Gambit's my favorite,' he said. 'I'm from New Orleans, around that area. My dad's from New Orleans, and I like to do a Cajun accent. I could do it for real.'

'No knock on Taylor Kitsch, though, 'cause I actually like his Gambit,' he added. But I've always lived around Cajun people.

'Gambit was always like the woman-loving, cigarette-smoking, drinking guy. He was the punk rock of all the superheroes. He's a thief. He kind of rode the line.'

How do you say October 7, 2016 in Cajun?
— Channing Tatum (@channingtatum) January 6, 2015

In the same mag, X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner said she was 'dying' to do a Gambit movie with Channing Tatum.

'That doesn’t have to be a great big movie. It’s a thief in New Orleans, it’s a whole different story,' she said. 'He’s on board, and I have to get the studio on board. How can anyone resist Channing? He’s such a sweetheart.'

But now that iteration of the film - as well as Channing's rumoured cameo in May's X-Men Apocalypse - looks to be in danger of not happening.

Gambit and Wolverine battle in X-Men the animated series

Chere: Gambit's most recognisable trait is his thick Cajun accent, a long-time point of amusement among comic fans when his speech is written out phonetically - and one which Chaning was confident of replicating