The Marvel Cinematic Universe has a history filled with surprising casting choices. However, few revelations are as unexpected as Channing Tatum’s confession that he once auditioned for the role of Thor.
Long before Chris Hemsworth became synonymous with the God of Thunder, Marvel Studios was searching far and wide for its Asgardian warrior. In a new interview, Tatum shared his experience testing for Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Thor’ and why he never truly wanted the role in the first place.
Channing Tatum On Bombing His Audition For Thor
In his interview with Variety, the 45-year-old actor recalled his early brush with Marvel during the casting of Thor. “I didn’t really want to be Thor,” Tatum admitted. “But I wanted to audition in front of Kenneth Branagh.” He described the audition as an eye-opening, if not slightly embarrassing, experience. “After I did one take, Branagh was like, ‘You’re not allowed to move. Put your hands on this chair.’ And I froze. He nailed my crutch. I spent the next five years really trying to learn stillness.”
Related: How Thor’s Crying Scene In ‘Deadpool And Wolverine’ Almost Took Over The Movie
It’s a striking anecdote that highlights how much of an actor’s craft can evolve with time. Instead of dwelling on the rejection, Tatum used the experience as a learning opportunity. And in hindsight, it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Chris Hemsworth wielding Mjolnir. Cast in May 2009, Hemsworth quickly became the face of Thor, delivering a balance of gravitas and humor that helped the character evolve across more than a decade of films.
Moreover, Hemsworth proved again and again why he was the right choice. Tatum, meanwhile, found his comic book destiny elsewhere. Though initially cast as Gambit in Fox’s X-Men universe, his solo film languished in development hell. For years, fans doubted he’d ever get to play the Cajun mutant. Then came ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, where Tatum finally stepped into Gambit’s boots and stole the show. His car-flinging mutant became one of the breakout characters of Phase 5, instantly sparking fan demand for more.
Additionally, Tatum’s rejection was perhaps the best thing that could have happened for both him and Marvel Studios. Fast forward to today, and Tatum is finally getting his long-awaited superhero moment. With Marvel confirming his Gambit return in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, Tatum is stepping into the spotlight in a way that feels both earned and perfectly timed. Fans who loved his Phase 5 debut are eager to see him stand with the Avengers.
Chris Hemsworth On Thor’s MCU Future
While Tatum is preparing for his Avengers debut, Chris Hemsworth isn’t finished with Thor just yet. In a recent conversation with the BBC, Hemsworth was asked directly whether ‘Thor 5’ could happen. “I don’t know. We’ll see where this one goes. We are unpacking that as we speak, and figuring out where each of these characters goes. I’m just thankful for being involved with this one at Marvel, back together with a lot of the old cast, and then the new cast. It’s something I certainly love. We’ll see what happens,” he stated.
In case you missed it: James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Might Just Do Lex Luthor The Villainous Justice He Deserves
Hemsworth’s comments underline the uncertainty of Marvel’s roadmap beyond ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’. However, the actor’s enthusiasm makes one thing clear: he’s still in love with playing Thor. Whether that means another solo outing or a supporting role in future ensemble projects, Hemsworth seems ready to return as long as Marvel will have him.
