Channing Tatum is set to play Gambit in the X-Men spin-off

Despite a report late last month saying that Channing Tatum’s deal for the Gambit movie was in jeopardy of falling apart and that he was planning to exit the X-Men spin-off at 20th Century Fox, The Hollywood Reporter says that the deal has now closed for the actor to star and produce.

According to the trade, the negotiations did hit a sensitive spot, but there was never any real danger of it not moving forward. His commitment to the role could possibly last more than a decade, much like how Hugh Jackman has appeared in many X-Men and solo films as Wolverine.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes helmer Rupert Wyatt will direct Gambit. Josh Zemuter wrote the script, based on a treatment by Chris Claremont. Tatum, Reid Carolin, Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg are producing.

The film is planned to go before cameras in October for an October 7, 2016 release. The movie will follow X-Men spinoff Deadpool on February 15, 2016 and X-Men: Apocalypse on May 27, 2016.