Director Rupert Wyatt Exits 'Gambit'

Well here's a bit of a problem.

After signing on to direct the film just three short months ago, Rypert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) has left 20th Century Fox's X-Men spinoff, Gambit. The film is set to star Channing Tatum in the lead role of Remy LeBeau AKA Gambit, the card-wielding, Bo staff-fighting mutant from New Orleans.

It's reported Wyatt's exit stems from script issues which have caused the project's budget to inflate, resulting in the shoot being extended and conflicting with another project Wyatt has been working on.

The director had this to say in an official statement:

"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."

The film is definitely a high priority for the studio. With Hugh Jackman hanging up his claws as Wolverine in a couple years, they are banking on Tatum's Gambit to become the lead star of the X-Men franchise.

My take though? I think Wyatt got the hell out of Dodge while he still can. After the disaster that was Fantastic Four, along with Tatum flirting with exiting the project himself just a couple months back, it's pretty obvious this thing is in trouble. I just hope they're able to land a solid replacement for Wyatt as director.

We'll see.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter