While some actors just accept cancellations, Channing Tatum is going all out to turn things around. He’s so passionate about his Marvel character from the X-Men movies that he’s determined to bring him back no matter what.
The actor got his chance to be part of Deadpool & Wolverine, finally fulfilling a long-held dream. But that’s not enough for him. Just as many fans hoped, he’s determined to fight for his neglected project and is eager to make that clear.
Channing Tatum Is Moving Mountains To Make Gambit Happen
Since Deadpool & Wolverine hit theaters, there have been many surprising cameos that took audiences by surprise. The film also aimed to pay tribute to the hero films from the now-defunct Fox, which kicked off Marvel’s X-Men universe.
One of the standout appearances was Channing Tatum, and what made it even more noteworthy was that the actor, reviving his canceled Gambit character, drew attention not just for his performance, but for his long-standing desire to bring the hero back to the screen.
After the success of his character in X-Men, 20th Century Fox had long considered a solo film for Gambit. However, when Disney merged with the production company in 2019, the project was scrapped entirely.
At the premiere of his latest film, Blink Twice, Tatum was asked by Variety about his role alongside Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. He seized the moment to express that his desire for a solo movie in the MCU is still very much alive:
From your mouth to God’s ears. Write it into existence, my friend. Please. I’ve been saying I want it for the last 10 years. It’s in Bob Iger and Kevin Feige’s hands. I pray to God.
When Deadpool & Wolverine premiered, some of the cast took to social media to celebrate. The actor not only praised the entire production but also gave a huge shoutout to Reynolds for the invite, admitting he had nearly given up hope of seeing his character back on screen.
He also mentioned that he personally spoke with Disney CEO Bob Iger and MCU President Kevin Feige to make his wish come true. For Tatum, the latest Marvel movie felt like the light at the end of the tunnel.
Why Was The Solo Gambit Movie That Got Canceled?
Fox had big plans for a solo movie featuring Gambit, the second most popular X-Men member after Wolverine, who peaked in the 1990s with the X-Men TV animation. However, despite the high hopes, this was the only Fox film that never came to fruition. (via Yahoo!Movies)
The character was initially set to appear in the first X-Men movie in 2000, but his scenes were cut from both X-Men 2 and X-Men: The Last Stand. Tatum was cast as Gambit for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but had to drop out due to contractual commitments with another film. Taylor Kitsch eventually took on the role, becoming the first on-screen incarnation of Gambit.
At the time, Fox planned solo films for both Deadpool and Gambit. However, while Deadpool secured his spot thanks to Reynolds’ persistence, the Gambit project encountered numerous hurdles. The film eventually returned to Tatum, who, passionate about the character, was also investing in the project as a producer. Still, it wasn’t enough.
Following the failure of the new version of Fantastic Four in 2015, Fox drastically cut Gambit‘s budget. Meanwhile, several directors came and went, complicating the project’s progress even further. The script also faced numerous revisions, with the studio shifting the focus to a romance storyline.
In the end, Disney acquired Fox, and the Gambit project was completely scrapped, becoming one of the most famous examples of superhero films that never came to be. However, with the character’s recent appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine, and Channing Tatum’s determination, the chances of the film finally coming to fruition are looking promising now.
Deadpool & Wolverine is currently running in theaters worldwide.
