Channing Tatum’s Unexpected Role in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’: Everything You Need to Know

Channing Tatum has finally fulfilled his long-held dream of portraying Gambit in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Although the summer blockbuster has focused on its lead stars, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, fans were thrilled to see Tatum make a surprise appearance as the iconic card-throwing mutant. His cameo came as a significant moment for the actor, who has been pursuing this role for nearly two decades.

In an emotional Instagram post, Tatum expressed his gratitude to Reynolds for making his Gambit dream a reality. "I thought I had lost Gambit forever," he wrote. "But he fought for me and Gambit. I will owe him probably forever. Cause I’m not sure how I could ever do something that would be equal to what this has meant to me. I love ya buddy."

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Despite this being his first time playing Gambit on screen, Tatum's connection to the character dates back to the early 2000s. In a 2014 interview with GQ, he revealed that he was initially considered for the role in 2006’s ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’, but the character was ultimately cut from the film. Gambit made his debut in 2009’s ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’, but Tatum was busy with other projects at the time, leading to Taylor Kitsch taking the role.

Tatum’s hopes were revived when he was involved in developing an ‘X-Men’ spinoff focused on Gambit, intended to be a standalone film with a comedic tone similar to the ‘Deadpool ‘series. However, the project faced numerous setbacks, including changes in directors and was eventually cancelled after Disney acquired Fox in 2019.

Tatum had previously described Gambit as "the coolest person," praising the character’s unique fashion sense in a 2022 Variety cover story. "Most superheroes, their outfits are utilitarian," Tatum explained. "Gambit's like, 'No, this is--t's just fly, bro! This s--t walked down the Paris runway last year.'"

The loss of the Gambit project had a profound impact on Tatum, leading him to avoid Marvel films for years. "Once Gambit went away, I was so traumatized," he admitted. "I shut off my Marvel machine. I haven't been able to see any of the movies. I loved that character. It was just too sad. It was like losing a friend because I was so ready to play with him." With his appearance in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, Tatum's dream of playing Gambit has finally come true. While there is no confirmation yet on whether he will reprise the role in future Marvel films, his portrayal in this film has certainly left fans hopeful for more.

-Sushmita Sarkar