Channing Tatum Hopes ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Leads to His Gambit Movie: ‘I Pray’

Channing Tatum has long been eyeing the role of Marvel’s Gambit, a journey that began in 2005. The actor finally had an opportunity to bring the character to life in a surprise cameo in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Now, Tatum’s sights are set on a loftier goal: starring in a solo “Gambit” movie.

An initial draft of the 2006 film, “X-Men: The Last Stand,” included Gambit, and Tatum was tapped to portray the kinetic-energy-wielding Cajun mutant. However, the character was subsequently written out of the script, and Tatum’s brief involvement with the sequel remained under wraps until 2014.

The actor faced another near-miss in 2009, when he couldn’t play Gambit in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” due to scheduling conflicts with “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” Throughout the years, Tatum made repeated attempts to kickstart a solo “Gambit” movie with 20th Century Fox, but those efforts never came to fruition.

Fast forward to 2024, and Tatum delighted fans with a memorable and meme-worthy appearance as Gambit in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” This film afforded Tatum the opportunity to don the comic-accurate outfit of the character, joining forces with Blade (Wesley Snipes), Elektra (Jennifer Garner), and X-23 (Dafne Keen) in multiple scenes.

“Deadpool & Wolverine” cleverly takes place in the multiverse, enabling the film to interweave different eras of Marvel movies. The result was a blockbuster hit that grossed nearly $1 billion in its first two weeks, according to Box Office Mojo.

Tatum’s tongue-in-cheek role resonated with viewers, leaving him hopeful for a chance to headline his long-desired solo movie. Speaking to Variety at the “Blink Twice” premiere, Tatum expressed his aspirations: “I sure hope so. From your mouth to God’s ears. Write it into existence, my friend. Please.” He added, “I’ve been saying I want it for the last 10 years. It’s in Bob Iger and Kevin Feige’s hands. I pray to God.”

Given that Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019 and now owns the rights to the “X-Men” characters, the possibility of a “Gambit” movie isn’t far-fetched. Tatum’s persistent interest in playing Gambit is reminiscent of Ryan Reynolds’ journey to embodying Deadpool—a saga that began with a less-than-ideal portrayal in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” but eventually led to a beloved and successful franchise.

On Instagram, Tatum extended his gratitude to Reynolds for reviving the character of Gambit in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” He wrote, “I thought I had lost Gambit forever. But he fought for me and Gambit. I will owe him probably forever.”

As fans eagerly await further developments, Tatum’s enthusiasm and dedication to the character of Gambit continue to inspire. Whether or not a solo “Gambit” movie will come to fruition remains to be seen, but Tatum’s cameo in “Deadpool & Wolverine” has undoubtedly reignited interest in the beloved character.

Source: Business Insider