‘Gambit’ Loses Director Rupert Wyatt

Gambit is scheduled for an October 7, 2016, release, and fans can finally look forward to seeing their favourite card-tossing mutant on the big screen. However, the project just hit another obstacle — Rupert Wyatt has quit as director of the movie.

Den of Geek have confirmed the director’s departure. Evolving scripts, an extending shoot, and increasing budgets have been blamed for Wyatt’s decision to forfeit the director’s chair. However, Games Radar has confirmed scheduling conflicts were the reason for Wyatt’s decision to quit one of the more promising Marvel movies in recent years.

Wyatt released a statement on his decision.

“I was very much looking forward to working with my friend Channing and the team at Fox, but regrettably a push in the start date now conflicts with another project. I thank them for the opportunity, and I know that Gambit will make a terrific film.”

Although Tatum is locked in, further casting is yet to be announced. Tatum expressed his desire to play the role some years ago, one that received mixed opinions from film and Marvel fans alike. Whoever they find to replace Wyatt, it would have to be fast — shooting is scheduled to start within the next two months.

A similar thing happened to Ant-Man (2015) when Edgar Wright left the project. He was quickly replaced, production finished smoothly, and the film was a $395.1 million success for Marvel. Fans can only hope the same happens with Gambit, one of the more revered characters in the Marvel universe. This isn’t the first time the production on Gambit has stalled, though — Tatum nearly left the project earlier this year and had to renegotiate with 20th Century Fox, amidst rumours of high salary demands and over-inflated production costs.

Only yesterday, the Inquisitr posted about the potential for a huge Marvel crossover featuring Deadpool, the X-Men, and Gambit. The three films — all released in 2016 — look to pave the way for lesser known, more individual superheroes. As mentioned, Deadpool will be rated R, the first modern Marvel movie (besides The Punisher and Punisher: Warzone) to do so, but this confirms a dedicated attention to detail on their work, one catering to a wider audience, and one that will hopefully ensure the Gambit production goes without any further hitches.

Marvel has a golden goose in their hands, one that has banked billions of dollars in the past fifteen years, and it doesn’t look to be slowing down. It’s clear that Marvel has the next phase of their universe mapped out beyond 2019 — with films featuring Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and Doctor Strange all in the pipeline — so Gambit will hopefully be their main focus on the announcement of this news.

Gambit is still scheduled to open on October 7, 2016. Let’s hope the Ragin’ Cajun can still make it.

[Images – DigitalTrends.com and Marvel]