Channing Tatum has expressed a long-standing desire to portray the Marvel hero Gambit, dating back to 2005. His dream seemed to come to fruition with a surprise cameo in the film 'Deadpool & Wolverine.' Now, Tatum is hopeful that he will finally get the opportunity to headline a solo 'Gambit' movie.
In an interesting turn of events, an early draft of the 2006 film 'X-Men: The Last Stand' originally included the character of Gambit, with Tatum slated to play the Cajun mutant known for his ability to manipulate kinetic energy. However, the character was ultimately omitted from the final script, and Tatum only confirmed his brief involvement with the sequel in 2014.
Tatum's journey to play Gambit faced another setback when he missed the chance to portray the character in the 2009 film 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' due to scheduling conflicts with another project. Despite several attempts over the years to kickstart a standalone 'Gambit' movie with 20th Century Fox, the project never came to fruition.
Fast forward to 2024, Tatum made a notable appearance as Gambit in 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' donning the character's iconic outfit in various scenes alongside other Marvel characters. The film, set in the multiverse, seamlessly blends different eras of Marvel movies and has been a massive success, grossing nearly $1 billion within the first two weeks of its release.
Tatum's playful portrayal of Gambit in the film garnered significant fan attention, leading him to express his hopes for a standalone movie. In an interview, Tatum mentioned his desire for the project, stating, 'I sure hope so. From your mouth to God's ears. Write it into existence, my friend. Please.' He further emphasized his long-standing wish for a 'Gambit' movie, expressing his hopes that Disney executives would consider the idea.
Given that Disney acquired the rights to the 'X-Men' characters following its purchase of 20th Century Fox in 2019, there is a possibility that Tatum's dream of starring in a 'Gambit' movie could become a reality under the Disney-Marvel umbrella.
Tatum's journey to play Gambit draws parallels to Ryan Reynolds' experience with Deadpool, starting from an initial portrayal in 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' to the establishment of a successful franchise. Tatum expressed gratitude to Reynolds for bringing Gambit back to him in 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' acknowledging the actor's efforts in resurrecting the character.
