'Gambit' starring Channing Tatum eyeing spring 2017 start date

BURBANK, Calif., July 11 (UPI) -- Fox's X-Men spinoff Gambit starring Channing Tatum could begin production as early as spring 2017 according to producer Simon Kinberg.

"We have a great script on that and hope to shoot that movie at the beginning — or spring — of next year," Kinberg said to That Hashtag Show recently during the Saturn Awards.

The cinematic X-Men gatekeeper also noted how Hugh Jackman's third Wolverine film is currently in production, that Deadpool 2 wants to begin shooting at the start of 2017 and how he plans on writing the next installment in the core X-Men series "real soon."

Gambit has had a rocky pre-production so far with Tatum being rumored to be exiting the film before formally committing to the role in August of 2015 and director Rupert Wyatt stepping down back in September of 2015. Director Doug Liman later took Wyatt's place.

In the Marvel comics, Remy LeBeau, aka Gambit, is a professional thief from New Orleans who gets introduced to the X-Men by Storm. The character is a mutant with the ability to control kinetic energy who throws playing cards that work as explosives.

Actress Lea Seydoux is also set to star opposite Tatum as Belladonna Boudreaux, Gambit's childhood love.