Channing Tatum Is Too Traumatized To Watch Any Marvel Movies

A few years ago, Channing Tatum was all set to play a superhero movie. The actor had been assigned to a role in a film centered on the Marvel movie "Gambit." However, after Disney acquired the rights in 2016, they decided to shelve the project. This left the actor feeling traumatized.

In a recent interview, Tatum opened up about his disappointment when he realized he wouldn't play a superhero movie. He also disclosed that he stayed away from all Marvel movies because he couldn't bear to watch them.

"Once Gambit went away, I was so traumatized. I shut off my Marvel machine. I haven't been able to see any of the movies. I loved that character. It was just too sad. It was like losing a friend because I was so ready to play him," he said to Variety.

He recalled that he was all set to begin shooting when the project was set aside and discarded. "We were right on the one-yard line," he mentioned. "We had cast the film. We'd opened up a production office. We were on our way to shoot in New Orleans. Disney had just gotten the X-Men (Gambit is a part of the X-Men universe) from Fox. I think they needed to redesign the X-Men from the ground up," he concluded.

He also revealed that he and his producing partner Reed Carolin developed the movies for about four years. He hoped to star as the X-Men mutant character and possibly direct the project with Carolin.

"The studio didn't want us to direct it. They wanted anybody but us, essentially, because we had never directed anything."

However, Tanning was in love with the script. "They would call him "flamboyant" in his description. I wouldn't - he was just the coolest person. He could pull anything off. Most superheroes outfits are utilitarian. Batman's got his belts. Gambit's like, 'No, this s**t's just fly, bro! This s**t walked down the Paris runway last year.' He's just wearing the stuff that's so dope because he loves fashion."

In the same interview, the actor addressed his absence from the big screen. He explained that he was constantly overworked and invariably unable to deliver the high-quality performances he was known for.

"I felt like I was the fat kid at the buffet, just working and working and working. I took four movies back to back without any time off. I wasn't as good as I wanted to be in those last two movies because I didn't have the energy."

"Do I want to act anymore? Was I going to direct? Do I want to be in the industry anymore? I got lucky. I won a creative lottery ticket. I made a little bit of money, so I could take a step back and figure out what life is," he concluded in the interview.

During his hiatus, he published a kids' book "The One and Only Sparkella." He also took time out to sculpt and write.

He also developed shows and films with Free Association's production company, co-founded with Peter Kiernan and Carolin.

Although the "Gambit" movie was canceled, Tatum and Carolin hope it can come back somehow. Anything could happen in a world where all the "Spider-Man" actors could be reunited.

"I wish they would reconsider because it's a pretty great project," Carolin said. "Maybe someday."

Tatum himself also stated that, if given a chance, he would still love to play Gambit.

However, Tatum confessed that if the project were brought back, he would probably pass on directing this time, stating that his and Carolin's initial lobby for the director's chair was most likely "hubris" on their part.

"I would love to play Gambit," he said, "I don't think we should direct it. I think that was hubris on our part."

Tatum is also set to film Magic Mike's "Last Dance" in London. This is seemingly the final chapter in the franchise, which begins filming in March.

He also has an upcoming project called "Dog," inspired by his beloved pup Lulu who died seven years ago from cancer.

A tumor was found in his dog's body. It eventually metastasized, and she died in December 2018 after they both watched the sunset at her favorite spot - Big Sur.

In the film "Dog," Tatum plays the lead actor Briggs. The project is also his directorial debut.

The movie explores Briggs and the dog Lulu and how they were both codependent on each other.

It is set to launch in the theaters on February 18.

His other film, "The Lost City," which contains an ensemble of stars like Brad Pitt, Daniel Radcliffe, and Sandra Bullock, will be released in March.