31 Mar – After years of delays and setbacks, it looks like the long-awaited "X-Men" spinoff, "Gambit", starring Channing Tatum, is greenlit to start production this summer. "Gambit" is to begin production this 19 June in New Orleans, the birthplace of the fictional character, Omega Underground reported. Despite locking a new production start date and also a release date of 7 June 2019, the project has yet to confirm a director to take on the helming duties after Gore Verbinski's exit early this year. The solo "Gambit" movie was first announced in 2014 with Tatum signing on to play the titular character but experienced development hell as directors come and go, leaving the movie on hold. Gambit, real name Remy LeBeau, is a member of the mutant team X-Men who can mentally create, control, and manipulate pure kinetic energy, usually applied on a deck of playing cards. Aside from "Gambit", other "X-Men" related projects that are currently being developed include a solo "Kitty Pryde" movie with Tim Miller attached to direct, a "Multiple Man" solo movie starring James Franco, an "X-Force" spinoff directed by Drew Goddard, and an "X-23" spinoff. "Deadpool 2" will be the only "X-Men" movie releasing this year since "X-Men: Dark Phoenix" and "The New Mutants" are both delayed for reshoots.