Channing Tatum: 'I want to play Gambit'

Actor Channing Tatum has set his heart on playing hard-partying superhero Gambit in a new X-Men film.

The Alabama native feels his familiarity with the Deep South would help him capture the card-slinging character's signature drawl.

He says, "Gambit's my favorite, 'cause I'm from New Orleans - or around that area, my dad's from New Orleans."

Taylor Kitsch played Gambit in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Tatum explains his desire to play the mutant's shoes is in no way an insult to the John Carter star.

He continues, "No knock on Taylor Kitsch, though, 'cause I actually like his Gambit, but I've always lived around Cajun people.

"Gambit was always like the woman-loving, cigarette-smoking, drinking (guy). He was the punk rock of all the superheroes. He's a thief. He (Kitsch) kind of rode the line."