Fox pulls Gambit from its schedule but announces the release of two more Marvel Comics films

Hollywood studio 20th Century Fox knows a thing or two when it comes to keeping a Marvel Comics fan guessing. Having previously announced X-Men spin-off Gambit starring Channing Tatum, would be out in cinemas in late 2016, it's now revealed that the film has been pulled from this year's schedule with no official replacement date in the offering.

According to BoxOffice.com, which first reported the change of plan on Twitter, Fox has scheduled the release for its two as yet unidentified Marvel projects for 6 October 2017 and 12 January 2018 respectively.

It's possible that Deadpool 2 could be eyeing the 2018 slot given the recent success of the first movie, while Gambit could take the 2017 date. However the latter film has yet to start shooting and has faced various setbacks even getting off the ground.

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes' Rupert Wyatt was originally signed on to direct Gambit, but ditched the project in September 2015, which seemed disastrous for the picture given that at the time it was scheduled to reach cinemas in October 2016. After courting candidates Shane Black (Iron Man 3), Joe Cornish (Attack The Block) and Doug Liman (Edge Of Tomorrow), the latter climbed aboard the film, but his involvement evidently wasn't enough to stop the studios pushing back the release date.

Meanwhile, French actress Léa Seydoux, who was seen last on the big screen in the latest James Bond installment, Spectre, has been rumoured to be starring in the movie as the female lead opposite Tatum. RoboCop screenwriter Joshua Zetumer is currently set to pen the script with X-Men: Days Of Future Past's Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg producing.

In the meantime, Fox has said it's setting its sights on releasing the upcoming Predator sequel on 2 March 2018. The date places it eight years on from Robert Rodriguez's Predators, starring Adrien Brody and Topher Grace. The film was panned by critics when it came out in 2010. Ridley Scott's next Alien movie has been moved up too, with Alien: Covenant now set for 4 August 2017.

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