Rupert Wyatt drops out of directing Fox's Channing Tatum starring Gambit

The X-Men spin-off was once rumoured to have lost its male lead

Marvel's Gambit (Marvel)

Earlier this year, Fox had numerous problems with director Josh Trank, who was at the helm of their Marvel property, Fantastic Four.

As you may know, that film turned out pretty horribly, with Trank disowning it just before release. It seems, however, Trank isn’t the only one who found it difficult working with the movie titans as Gambit director Rupert Wyatt has left his superhero project.

The X-Men spin-off, starring Channing Tatum, was suppose to start shooting in November, but according to Variety, a changing script, budget issues and an extended shooting period have lead the two parties to disband.

“I was very much looking forward to working with my friend Channing and the team at Fox, but regrettably a push in the start date now conflicts with another project,” Wyatt said in a statement. “I thank them for the opportunity and I know that Gambit will make a terrific film.”

There were rumours recently going around that Channing Tatum wanted to leave the project, but these were proven false as he remains attached to star as the card-wielding hero.

The next film in Fox’s superhero franchise to be released will be X-Men: Apocalypse, which stars Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Oscar Isaac, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender and Hugh Jackman. The film opens in cinemas across the UK on 19 May 2016.

It will be their eighth X-Men based film.