PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Director Gore Verbinski In Talks To Helm X-MEN Spinoff GAMBIT
After losing both Doug Liman and Rupert Wyatt, it sounds like 20th Century Fox is now zeroing in on Pirates of the Caribbean helmer Gore Verbinski to helm their Channing Tatum-led X-Men spinoff Gambit!
Deadline is reporting that Gore Verbinski has entered early negotiations with 20th Century Fox to helm their upcoming X-Men spinoff Gambit, which will star Channing Tatum (Kingsman: The Golden Circle) as the titular mutant hero.
If the deal closes, Verbinski will be the third director to board the project after Rupert Wyatt (Captive State), who exited in October 2015, and Doug Liman (American Made), who exited in August 2016.
The Hollywood Reporter's Borys Kit adds that the deal "could go either way at this stage" and that a critical meeting next week may determine whether or not Verbinski ultimately signs on for the long-gestating project.
Plot details remain under wraps, but Josh Zetumer (Patriots Day) penned the most recent version of the film's script. Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg will oversee the project for the studio while Tatum is also onboard as a producer with his Free Association partner Reid Carolin.
Verbinski is best known for directing the first three installments in Disney's billion-dollar Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and his resume also includes The Mexican, The Ring, The Weather Man, Rango, The Lone Ranger, and A Cure for Wellness. He is currently in pre-production on a new project, titled Spaceless.