Fans of the popular X-Men character Gambit may finally get to see him in his own movie. Actor Channing Tatum has portrayed Gambit in a brief cameo role and has spent over a decade trying to bring a solo Gambit film to theaters. Tatum’s performance in “Deadpool & Wolverine” was well received and has renewed discussions about a potential Gambit standalone project.
Tatum first became attached to play Gambit in 2009 but missed out on an earlier opportunity. Since then, he has been actively developing a Gambit movie with producing partner Reid Carolin. However, the long-gestating project was put on hold after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019. But Tatum says he remains optimistic about the character’s future following positive reactions to his “Deadpool & Wolverine” scene.
“I sure hope so,” Tatum stated when asked if the success of the recent blockbuster has inspired renewed hopes. Ryan Reynolds, who stars as Deadpool, praised Tatum’s performance. In an Instagram post, Reynolds compared Tatum’s decade long effort to bring Gambit to life to his own experience getting a Deadpool movie made.
While talks with Marvel Studios are in early stages, Tatum sees potential value in Gambit joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He acknowledged that the fate of the character is up to Disney executives Bob Iger and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. For now, fans will have to be content with Tatum’s brief but scene-stealing role in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” currently in theaters worldwide. As plans remain unconfirmed, Gambit enthusiasts await further updates on the prospect of finally seeing the Cajun mutant lead his own film.
