The X-Men spinoff known as Gambit was to be released on October of 2016. However, the staff felt a series of disconnects that discouraged their desire to continue with the production of Gambit. Rupert Wyatt, the first director of the film, cut his ties with the film due to “creative differences”. And to make matters worse, the newly appointed Doug Liman rejected directing due to his disappointment with the script. Liman had the following to say about his reason for shutting down this potential X-Men spinoff.
I look for a personal connection to the movies I make and it may not be immediately obvious. You know, like what’s my connection to Jason Bourne? I have a deeply personal connection to that movie because it’s all about Iran-Contra and my father ran the investigations into Iran-Contra. In every story I have a personal connection. The Wall, you’d be like what could this filmmaker from New York possibly have in common with these two soldiers pinned down in Irag? But The Wall is really about perseverance. It’s about picking yourself up and you just keep going and that’s something I have firsthand experience with. Not in war but in other aspects of life. With Gambit, I just never found that personal way in. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t.
Liman’s new objective is to direct, an animated film of DC Comics, Justice League Dark. Over the years, DC films have incorporated far more darker and intimate situations that relates to Liman’s style of directing. Liman loves putting people in situations that are extreme enough to create a more humanistic approach to the films he makes. Therefore, Liman wants to direct a film that allows him to make heroes feel more human instead of a typical hero.
It is interesting to note that Wyatt’s conflict of “creative differences” could be closely tied to Fox wanting to cut the budget of the film. Often times, a small budget may not be enough to produce a unique enough experience that will make the team feel like the job has been done right.
Furthermore, many super hero/heroine films in this day and age were designed with engaging video effects that intensified critical moments. With so many personal and financial quarrels with this film it is hard to say if our raging Cajun is going to be able to say the words “Come’on Mon Ami” anytime soon.
