Is Channing Tatum a good choice to play Gambit in the 'X-Men' films?

They’ve timed this well haven’t they? With the release of Bryan Singer’s mega budget X-Men — Days Of Future Past now imminent, Fox have gone ahead and announced a standalone film for my absolute favourite X-Man, Gambit. And news reports confirm that it’ll be Channing Tatum playing the coveted superhero, who’s known as a "ladies' man" in the comics, speaks in a very thick Cajun accent and hails from Southern US (he has that in common with Tatum at least).

A mutant, Gambit can mentally create, control and manipulate pure kinetic energy to his every whim and desire and is mainly known for using playing cards as weapons and is highly skilled with of a bō (a staff used in martial arts). The character was already played by Taylor Kitsch in 2009’s epic dud X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and to be absolutely fair he wasn’t half bad in it, it was the shoddy script and the principle focus being on Jackman’s Wolverine that let him down to a major extent.

Producer Lauren Shuler Donner recently named Tatum as her ideal choice to play the comic book character, and only recently confirmed that Tatum has signed up for a future project, telling Total Film: "It is Channing."

Explaining why Tatum has been selected, she said: "He's a rogue, he's a rascal, just like Remy LeBeau (Gambit’s actual name).

"He can handle the action, as we know, and he's got a real good heart, I know him personally."

She added: "He'll be great for Gambit, and he's a southerner too, he understands that world, and you know Gambit loves New Orleans."

Tatum previously expressed interest in the role, telling MTV: "I met with Lauren Shuler Donner. And I would love it. Gambit is really the only X-Man I've ever loved.

"I mean I've loved them all, they're all great, but I guess from being down south - my dad's from Louisiana, I'm from Mississippi, Alabama, Florida - I don't know. I just related to him."

Is Channing Tatum a good choice to pull off the part? I don’t know. I’m totally on the fence with this one. Physically maybe, even though I thought Tatum was a little old for the part, especially if they’re planning to make a franchise, and by the time this film actually sees the light of day Tatum will most likely be approaching 40.

Besides, Gambit was always a cocky character, and I somehow doubt Tatum will fit that part, given that he’s usually quite sentimental, soppy and lovelorn in the films I have seen him in. And to top that off, his last action film White House Down didn't exactly set the box office ablaze and proved to be a yawn fest, so he’ll be relying majorly on a solid script and a whiz director to pull this one off.

Gambit is expected - but not confirmed - to be a part of 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse, a follow up to X-Men Days Of Future Past as well as a candidate for an X-Men spin-off movie.

This could be a really great film, or it could really suck, I just hope Fox and anyone associated with it, do the character the justice it deserves!

Do you think Channing Tatum will make a good Gambit? Let us know below!

And as an aside check out this totally cool post from BuzzFeed – perfectly sums up my sentiments on one of my favourite cartoon shows!

Theatrical Trailer: X-Men Days Of Future Past

Gambit and Rogue scenes from 90s X-Men animated series

X-Men Theme Tune (90s)

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