Simon Kinberg explains delay in Channing Tatum's Gambit movie

Fans will have to wait a little longer to see Channing Tatum play Gambit in the X-Men member's solo movie. Writer-producer Simon Kinberg has revealed that the movie has been delayed, but offered an explanation for it.

Speaking to Slashfilm about the movie's release date, Kinberg said, "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… '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."

According to the director, they are very close to writing a screenplay worthy of the character and that fans will not have to wait for 10 years for the movie to hit threatres.

"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," he told the website.

The Magic Mike XXL star will play the card-throwing mutant in the movie. Previously, Kinberg had teased that the 20th Century Fox hopes to start filming the movie in early 2017.

"We have a great script on that and hope to shoot that movie at the beginning — or spring — of next year," the 42-year-old said.