Hugh Jackman returns as Wolverine in the first Deadpool 3 trailer, premiered during the Super Bowl on Sunday. The trailer also reveals the official title, Deadpool & Wolverine, and how the R-rated Merc with a Mouth is entering the MCU.
The movie will unite Marvel characters from various universes. Fans have already spotted an Easter egg related to the upcoming Secret Wars in the trailer.
There, sharp-eyed fans spotted Gambit with a Wolverine variant, too. This could mean Channing Tatum’s official debut in the superhero movie.
Deadpool 3‘s Trailer Teases Channing Tatum’s Possible MCU Debut as Gambit
In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, some keen-eyed viewers spotted Gambit and a Wolverine variant in the Deadpool 3 trailer. This has sparked speculation about Channing Tatum finally joining the superhero flick.
Gambit is a member of the X-Men. He has the power to charge objects with explosive energy, turning them into weapons, like a deck of cards. As an X-Man, he aims to make up for his past mistakes and be a hero.
Check out the Deadpool 3 trailer here posted on Ryan Reynolds YouTube channel:
Gambit’s appearance can be seen at 1:20 minutes into the trailer. If this turns out to be true, then Tatum’s official MCU debut seems certain.
Is that Gambit across from Patch?! pic.twitter.com/uE1pVglQ1W
— Caiden Reed | Scooby-Doo (@caiden_reed) February 12, 2024
Previously, there were many rumors about The Lost City actor playing Gambit in Deadpool 3. In September 2023, the full IMDb cast and crew listing for the third Deadpool film hinted at the 43-year-old’s appearance as Gambit in the movie.
The IMDb page for Deadpool 3‘s cast and crew was updated, showing Joel Adrian as “Stunt Double: Channing Tatum.” Though it has now been removed.
According to a post on Instagram by the reliable source MyTimeToShineHello, he has filmed a cameo as Gambit for the threequel.
Tatum wasn’t officially listed in the cast earlier. But, this means that the recent rumors about him playing the iconic Marvel Mutant Remy LeBeau, aka Gambit, might be true after all.
Channing Tatum’s Journey to Marvel’s Gambit Role
Channing Tatum was considered for the role of Gambit in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but when he couldn’t do it, Taylor Kitsch got the part instead. Later, when plans for X-Men Origins prequels fell through, the Alabama native signed on for a Gambit movie in May 2014.
The actor was supposed to play Gambit in a spinoff film, but it got canceled in May 2019 after being stuck in development since 2014.
The project faced delays as several directors, like Rupert Wyatt, Doug Liman, and Gore Verbinski, came and went. After Verbinski left, Tatum considered co-directing it with Reid Carolin.
But, when the Walt Disney Company bought 21st Century Fox in March 2019. About two weeks later, they officially canceled the Gambit movie.
In February 2022, The Magic Mike star told Variety that he felt “traumatized” by what happened with Gambit, saying:
“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 him.”
But now finally, Deadpool 3 raises hopes among fans about Tatum’s long-awaited official MCU debut as Gambit.
Deadpool 3 is set to release in cinemas on July 26.
