EXCLUSIVE: In a move that makes official that the X-Men character Gambit is getting his own spinoff movie with Channing Tatum as the card-savvy protagonist, Fox has set Robocop scribe Josh Zetumer to write the screenplay. The studio has officially attached Tatum as star, and to produce with his Free Association partner Reid Carolin, The Donners Company’s Lauren Shuler Donner, and Genre Films’ Simon Kinberg.

The screenplay will be based on a treatment penned by legendary Marvel Comics writer Chris Claremont, who with Jim Lee created the character for Marvel in 1990. The storyline is being kept under wraps. The character, which also goes by the name Remy LeBeau, has the ability to charge matter with volatile kinetic energy, causing the object in question to explosively release its charge on impact. The character materialized in a short burst in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Tatum and Carolin are currently producing Magic Mike XXL, which was written by Carolin, with Tatum once again starring. Tatum will next be seen starring in Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher, and he has a headlock on Oscar buzz for his role as Olympic champion wrestler Mark Schultz since that film premiered at Cannes. Zetumer along with Tatum, Carolin and their company are repped by UTA and Management 360.

Rupert Wyatt has been hired by Twentieth Century Fox to direct Channing Tatum’s X-Men spinoff “Gambit.”

Tatum is also producing with partner Reid Carolin, along with Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg. Wyatt, who helmed “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” for the studio and Mark Wahlberg’s “The Gambler,” will direct from Josh Zetumer’s script.

Gambit was created in 1990 by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee. He’s an expert card-thrower, was raised in New Orleans and has the ability to mentally create, control and manipulate kinetic energy.

“Gambit” will hit theaters on October 7, 2016, and will be Fox’s eighth X-Men movie. “X-Men: Apocalypse” debuts on May 27, 2016.

“Gambit” will face off against Warner Bros.’ “Live by Night” and Universal’s “Monster High.”

Wyatt is repped by UTA and Gang Tyre.

Another Marvel movie is getting ready to start filming this fall. That would be “Gambit,” starring Channing Tatum as Remy LeBeau aka Gambit and directed by Rupert Wyatt. Yesterday I was sent a casting call for a movie called “Chess,” from 20th Century Fox. It took a little reconnoitering to figure out it was “Gambit,” shooting in New Orleans. All the roles are noted to include deals for sequels. I guess Gambit will supplant Wolverine as the new go to guy in Fox’s Marvel universe. PS Taylor Kitsch played Gambit in X Men: Origins.

Here’s the casting call as it was read to me:

Louis– Male, any ethnicity, 40s-50s. Elegant and intelligent. An appealing entrepreneur with an unexpected
dark side.

Vera– Female, any ethnicity, mid 20s – early 30s. Beautiful, smart, tough, fiery and unpredictable.

Wes– Male, any ethnicity, mid 20s – mid 30s. Aspirational but weak minded. Soulful and sensitive.

Fritz– Male, any ethnicity, 40s – 50s. A professional thief. Charismatic con-artist. Warm hearted but untrustworthy.

Nash– Male, any ethnicity, mid 20s – early 30s. A potent threat. Heir to his mother’s business. Malevolent.

Willhelm– Male, any ethnicity, 30s. Dangerous street criminal. Protective and loyal to his family. Intensely loyal and violent.

Gary– Male, any ethnicity, mid 20s – early 30s. A little simple; dim-witted and passive.

Nonna—Female, any ethnicity, mid 20s – 30 years old.
Uptight, corporate, vicious, sexual.

Joe– Male, any ethnicity, 30s. He’s a gun for hire. He is the black sheep of his family. Not from good breeding but from a working class family.

Ben–Male, any ethnicity, 20s. Just reaching adulthood. A street kid, a disaffected outsider, an orphan.

Boris–Male, Hispanic, 20s. Charming, handsome, and dangerous..

Clarissa– Female, mixed race, 10 – 12 years old. Ethereal and other worldly. Very expressive.

Wolfgang– Male, authentic French, 40s. A French criminal. Must speak fluent French.

Howard– Male, Caucasian. 50s. A refined European mobster who speaks fluent French.