It’s no secret that Channing Tatum was once knee-deep into making his Marvel debut with a standalone Gambit feature, which would’ve been released under Fox’s X-Men label. But despite being in the oven since 2014, following the 2019 merger of 20th Century Fox and Disney, the project was ultimately scrapped, leaving the Magic Mike Star deeply traumatized.
However, after almost half a decade since the project was discarded at the Disney headquarters, the upcoming Deadpool 3 might finally give fans a chance to witness the Cajun Superhero in action.
Hugh Jackman Further Fuels up Rumors Surrounding Channing Tatum’s MCU Debut
Set to be MCU’s biggest release since No Way Home, fans are pumped up about Deadpool & Wolverine, which is expected to witness many returning Marvel faces. But it seems it’s not only the existing Marvel characters that are set to make their appearance known in the MCU multiverse, as many are convinced that Channing Tatum will finally get his time to shine as Gambit.
Responding to Hugh Jackman‘s recent workout IG post, a throwback to his time gearing up for Deadpool 3, Tatum commented, “Letttsss gooo daddy!!!!”. While it seems pretty simple by itself, considering Jackman shared the comment on his story and mentioned the actor in purple text, many are convinced Tatum will appear as Gambit in Deadpool 3.
While the rumors were already out there, with @MyTimeToShineH even claiming that Tatum will get a comic-accurate suit for Gamit, Jackman’s response has fans further optimistic.
The Scrapping of Gambit Soured Channing Tatum’s Experience With Marvel
Considering the Gambit project was very near and dear to Channing Tatum, as he was in love with its script, Tatum was obsessed with helming the director’s chair for the feature. However, the actor revealed that the higher-ups at the studio weren’t inclined toward the idea of him directing, following his lack of experience in the field. And while Tatum was ready to forgo the director’s chair in order to get the film greenlit, it was eventually scrapped following the Disney and Fox merger. This ultimately soured the actor’s experience with Marvel projects for a while.
He said (via Variety):
“The studio really didn’t want us to direct it. They wanted anybody but us, essentially, because we had never directed anything… Once ‘Gambit’ went away, I was so traumatized. 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.”
If the rumors of Gambit are indeed true, which many are convinced are, thanks to Hugh Jackman, fans will hope that MCU will finally greenlight Tatum’s passion project in the foreseeable future.
Deadpool & Wolverine will hit theatres on 26 July 2024.
