TEN THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT... GAMBIT

Everything we’ve gleaned about the X-men universe’s latest mutant spin-off gamble

1__ He’s the 12th most popular X-men character. According to fans who voted on Ranker.com, anyway. New Orleanian Remy Etienne Lebeau — aka Gambit — made his comics debut in 1990 as a mutant who manipulates kinetic energy to turn playing cards into explosive weapons, and was a regular in the early ‘90s animated series.

2__ We nearly first saw him on a big screen in 2003. While shooting X2, Bryan Singer filmed a Gambit appearance with Hugh Jackman’s stunt double, James Bamford, in the role, only to later cut it. Then he was nearly in X-men: The Last Stand — but writers Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn decided they couldn’t fit him in. 3__ His first cinematic appearance came in 2009’s much-maligned X-men Origins: Wolverine, played by Taylor Kitsch.

4__ Channing Tatum is now signed on to play him — and has been incredibly patient. After finally being announced as the new Gambit in 2014, Tatum’s stuck by the project throughout development hell. He’s “loved for Gambit for a long time,” he says, “plus he’s just cool, man.”

5 __ It will have a heist-movie vibe. Given Gambit was part of a thieves’ guild before joining the X-men, this is unsurprising. “I’ve been watching a lot of heist movies for Gambit,” confirms Tatum.

6__ Lizzy Kaplan is in talks to play an unnamed role. Our money’s on her playing Gambit’s childhood companion Bella Donna Boudreaux, a fellow mutant with psychic powers.

7__ Just as Ryan Reynolds drove Deadpool, Tatum has been hands-on during the development process. He’s “determined to getting the character right,” said producer Simon Kinberg.

8__ It’s currently without a director. Three directors have been attached to the project, only to drop out — first Rupert Wyatt, leaving in 2015; then Doug Liman, exiting in August 2016; nd most recently Gore Verbinski, leaving in January 2018.

9__ Despite being directorless, it is still — at time of going to press — scheduled for a February 2019 release date.

10__ Filming had been due to begin in New Orleans in March, according to the city’s film office, under the working title ‘Forevermore’. Which is probably how long Tatum feels like he’s waited to get to this point.