X-Men writer Simon Kinberg explains why Gambit has been delayed

'Deadpool feels like it exploded out of nowhere, but it was a 10-year development process'

(Marvel)

Superhero films are currently all the rage in Hollywood; currently sitting atop the box-office is Suicide Squad, which managed to gross over $250 million worldwide in its first weekend.

One common complaint is that the market is oversaturated with the genre, mainly in thanks to three studios - Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros - pumping out numerous DC/Marvel films every year.

Behind X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Deadpool is Fox, who previously announced they were working on another spin-off, Gambit, with Channing Tatum as the lead.

However, earlier this year, it was announced that Gambit has been delayed for the foreseeable future for relatively unknown reasons. Simon Kinberg - writer and producer of various X-Men films - has given some insight into why the film has been delayed, citing ‘tone’ as the main reason.

“I think the truth is when you have these movies that need a very special and unique tone, it takes a little while to find that tone," he told /Film. "Deadpool feels like it exploded out of nowhere, but it was a 10-year development process on that movie. I think it was honed over those 10 years.

“I hope that Gambit doesn’t take 10 years, but it takes a little honing to get that tone and that voice exactly right.

"The character has such a specific voice in the comic in the same way that Deadpool has a specific voice in the comic, that we want to make sure that we capture that voice on the page. Really it’s just about getting a screenplay that is worthy of that character, and I think we’re really close right now.”

For those in need of their next X-Men fix, the third Wolverine film is set to hit cinemas next year, with Hugh Jackman reprising his role as the clawed mutant.