Before Channing Tatum finally made his way into the Marvel universe with ‘Deadpool & Wolverine‘, he had already walked a long and frustrating road trying to bring one of the X-Men’s most beloved characters, Gambit, to life. Fans know the Fox-Marvel era was full of ambitious projects.
However, few were as tantalizing or chaotic as the cancelled Gambit solo film. Now, thanks to a new interview with Variety, Tatum has pulled back the curtain on what the movie would have been, and it’s nothing short of jaw-dropping.
Channing Tatum Says Gambit Movie Would’ve Limited The Character’s Presence To Deadpool Universe
According to Tatum, the version he and the creative team were developing at Fox would have been unlike anything Marvel Studios has attempted. “If we’d made our Fox version, that script would’ve never gotten made, ever. It was an R-rated romantic comedy,” he explained. And he didn’t mean “lightly R-rated” either. “When I say R-rated, I mean we went for it,” Tatum laughed. “We made Gambit the kind of character who could only exist in a movie with Deadpool.”
Related: Channing Tatum’s Hilarious Gambit Accent Might Get In The Way Of His Dream Solo Film
That meant full-on adult content, edgy humor, and yes, mutants having sex. “It was wild,” he said, stressing that Disney would never go near a film like that under their current brand approach. “You don’t always know what Disney will be, but you definitely know what it’s not going to be. It’s not gonna be horror. It’s not gonna be sex.” Tatum doesn’t say this in bitterness, though. If anything, he believes tonal diversity is now a necessity.
“I think Marvel needs that kind of tonal diversity; something to balance the other side,” he added. And to him, Gambit is the perfect character for that space. He still hopes the Cajun mutant will one day get the attention he deserves. “Gambit is a great opportunity for that. There’s so much you can do with him, and he’s slowly being built into the Marvel psyche.” Even if a solo movie isn’t immediately in the cards, Tatum isn’t giving up. “It’s fascinating, and I think one day they’ll figure it out.” That day may come sooner than fans think.
Moreover, Tatum is confirmed to return as Gambit in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, coming in 2026. Directed by the Russo Brothers, the film wrapped filming on September 19, 2025, and is already shaping up to be one of Marvel’s boldest undertakings. It marks Gambit’s first proper on-screen debut. Additionally, with Phase 7 heavily rumored to push the X-Men to the forefront, it seems almost guaranteed that Marvel has long-term plans for Remy LeBeau.
“My Name Is Jeff”: Channing Tatum On The Meme That Won’t Die
While Tatum has headlined blockbusters and earned critical acclaim, one of his most unexpected legacies is a four-word line delivery that turned into an internet staple. In ‘22 Jump Street’, his undercover character Jenko is asked his name. Without missing a beat, and with an absurd voice, he replies, “My name is Jeff.” At the time, no one on set thought it would become comedy gold. “It wasn’t even that funny on the day,” Tatum admitted.
In case you missed it: Channing Tatum Reveals The Real Story Behind His Thor Audition Fail 16 Years Ago
Ironically, his character in that movie is actually named Jeff, which only reignited the meme across social media. But the wildest part? He hears it constantly, and in the most unexpected places. “I hear it every single time I go through TSA,” he said. “Someone in TSA, I’d say over 95% of the time, goes ‘My name’s Jeff.’” He laughs about it now, but there’s something almost surreal about how a throwaway improv line turned into a piece of modern internet culture. “It’s a wild thing what becomes pop culture.”
