The MCU is famous for its ever-shifting roster of heroes, villains, and surprise casting choices. Few characters embody that rollercoaster of anticipation and disappointment quite like Gambit. Long hailed as one of the most charismatic members of the X-Men, Gambit’s road to the big screen has been bumpy at best.
Back in 2009, ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ gave fans their first glimpse of the character through Taylor Kitsch’s portrayal. While Kitsch brought his own flair to the role, his Gambit ended up being more of a side character. Now, with Channing Tatum finally taking on the role in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, Taylor Kitsch opened up about losing the role to Tatum.
Taylor Kitsch Speaks Out Regarding Gambit’s Recasting
In a recent interview with SR while promoting ‘The Terminal List: Dark Wolf’, Taylor Kitsch was asked about Channing Tatum’s Gambit and whether he had seen the cameo in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. The actor’s response was refreshingly candid. “No, no, not at all, man. That’s the business, man. It’s all good. It’s like I love the path I’m on and the actor I’ve become and the stories I’m engaging in. No pun intended, here’s a quote for you, but Gambit wasn’t in the cards for me, man,” he stated.
With that pun, Kitsch confirmed that he has no hard feelings toward Marvel or Tatum. Instead, he emphasized that sometimes roles slip through an actor’s fingers, not because of a lack of talent, but simply because timing and circumstances didn’t align. For Kitsch, life after Gambit has been full of diverse opportunities. “Never say never, but I don’t know, man. I’ve got this book right here, 11 Days in Hell. That’s my next project. It scares the shit out of me. And I love that,” he explained.
“I pride myself on playing very different people and stories. So I have no regrets with it. Sometimes it’s not in my power to say who gets to play what.” Now, while some fans still debate whether his Gambit was truer to the comics than Tatum’s, Kitsch himself has closed that chapter, preferring to focus on projects that challenge him in different ways.
Channing Tatum On Gambit’s Future In The MCU
Of course, no conversation about Gambit is complete without Channing Tatum, the actor who spent years trying to bring the character to life. After his well-received cameo in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, Tatum is expected to return in ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘. However, in true Tatum fashion, he’s playing coy with fans.
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In an interview with Extra, the actor joked about his supposed involvement in the upcoming Avengers installment. “Personally, all I was guaranteed was a chair. They said that I have a chair, and I can at least watch the movie from the chair. You know, and it was just my name, it wasn’t exactly Gambit. So, I work in the world of just like, binary yes or no’s, and I’ve only been guaranteed so far a chair to watch the movie in.”
The remark is clearly a reflection of his long and often frustrating history trying to get a Gambit movie off the ground. After all, it’s hard to imagine Marvel going through the trouble of finally giving Tatum his shot as Gambit, only to bench him. Still, his comments do highlight just how unpredictable Marvel Studios’ plans can be. ‘Avengers: Doomsday; is expected to bring together dozens of characters from across the multiverse. So, Gambit’s presence is almost certain. However, the size and significance of his role remain a mystery.
