Internet stories proclaiming that Fox’s Gambit film starring Channing Tatum was in jeopardy of falling apart have evidently proven to be erroneous (ICv2 was aware of the stories that were all over the Net last week, but chose not to report the rumor, which was unconfirmed).  According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tatum has closed the deal with Fox to star in (and produce) a Gambit movie, which Josh Zetumer has penned from a treatment by Gambit co-creator Chris Claremont.

According to The Reporter: "Tatum and the studio did hit a sensitive spot in negotiations, but such back-and-forth is a normal part of top-level talent deal-making.  The Magic Mike star's participation hardly was in any real danger because the actor already had invested quite a bit in the superhero part.  Tatum has been attached to the movie (loosely then officially) as both actor and producer for a few years and even made a surprise appearance at Fox’s X-Men panel at Comic-Con in July."  Tatum’s long involvement with the project was the prime reason that ICv2 decided not to report the rumors that he had left the Gambit film.

Rise of Planet of the Apes helmer Rupert Wyatt is slated to direct the Gambit film (see "Fox Snaps 'POTA' Helmer for 'Gambit'"), which had been given a release date of October 7, 2016 (see "'Gambit' Gets a Release Date").  No word yet on whether Fox plans on making that release date--if the studio does, filming will have to begin fairly soon.  The Reporter indicated that one of the sticking points in the deal was an agreement on sequels and appearances in other X-Men films, though the publication’s exclusive story did not indicate the number of films covered by the agreement.