Channing Tatum has finally opened up about why his long-delayed Gambit movie never came to fruition, and the reason is wilder than what we could have imagined. The actor, who made his MCU debut in Deadpool & Wolverine, revealed how the original Gambit script was an R-rated rollercoaster (via Variety).
Look…if we’d made our Fox version, that script would’ve never gotten made — ever. It was an R-rated romantic comedy. And when I say R-rated, I mean we went for it. We made Gambit the kind of character who could only exist in a movie with Deadpool. We had mutants having s*x! It was wild — full-on. That’s something Marvel and Disney would never do,
For years, we’ve wanted to see Tatum’s Gambit return, and after starring with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in a cameo for their billion-dollar blockbuster, we’ll see more of him in Avengers: Doomsday. Now, let’s look at what the actor has to say about reprising Gambit and joining the MCU.
Channing Tatum on Playing Gambit and Being in the MCU
Channing Tatum’s journey to Gambit has been long and complicated. He was originally set to appear in X-Men: The Last Stand, but scheduling conflicts and creative decisions led to him being cut from the film. Then another actor took over the part, and Tatum had to watch the role slip away from him.
But his brief cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine allowed him to embody the character, even if it was for a brief moment. He called it “the most high-stakes cosplay of all time,” recalling how surreal it was to work alongside Deadpool, Wolverine, Blade, and other icons (via Variety), which made him have an “out-of-body kid moment.”
During the cast announcement of Avengers: Doomsday, fans were thrilled to know that he’d reprise his role in the large-scale movie. He also opened up about how it was his childhood dream to play Gambit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: “I always wanted to be an X-Man, so now to be in the Avengers is beyond my wildest dreams”.
Can Channing Tatum’s Gambit Exist After Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool?
Could two R-rated divas co-exist in the MCU? We say, Why not? Ryan Reynolds has indeed conquered the dark and twisted humor space in the franchise, with all three Deadpool movies being R-rated.
But there’s still room for more exploration in the saga with such characters. Channing Tatum’s Gambit could be a fresh tonal counterpart, and his presence in Avengers: Doomsday would only boost the demand for a solo film if he’s given proper screentime and antics.
Moreover, the actor himself has starred in comedies like 21 Jump Street and more, as well as moving dramas. Plus, he’s a great dancer with a lot of control over his physicality, meaning he’s cut out to play an MCU lead, so there’s no reason not to give him a solo film!
So, what do you think, should Gambit finally get his due in the MCU?
You can watch Deadpool & Wolverine on Disney+. Avengers: Doomsday is set to release on December 18, 2026 (USA).
