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Warning: Spoilers ahead for Deadpool & Wolverine!
Summary

• Deadpool & Wolverine integrates new characters into the MCU, with a surprise appearance from Channing Tatum as Gambit.
• The film is packed with Easter Eggs and references that add depth when viewed in the larger Marvel context.
• Channing Tatum's long-awaited role as Gambit finally gets realized in a memorable way, offering fans a unique treat.

Deadpool & Wolverine spends much of its runtime integrating several exciting characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the feature of one cast hero who never appeared in any previous film. Deadpool & Wolverine contains countless Easter Eggs and references, and many of these become even better when understanding the larger context surrounding them. Like the character of Deadpool himself, Deadpool & Wolverine is a self-aware film, and just about every joke or cameo seems to pull from the greater legacy of Marvel beyond its simple inclusion.
Some performers never make it to the big screen despite being cast or nearly cast as iconic heroes. It seemed that Joaquin Phoenix was confirmed to play Doctor Strange in the MCU for a time before that deal fell apart. Nicolas Cage was cast as Superman in the 1990s, but he never appeared in the role until a strange CGI cameo in The Flash. Some casting dreams do not ever materialize. However, a significant unrealized casting from 2014 is finally featured in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Related Deadpool & Wolverine Ending Explained Deadpool & Wolverine’s ending is filled with multiversal stakes, insane cameos, and big teases for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Channing Tatum Finally Got His Chance To Play Gambit Tatum Was Cast As Remy LeBeau In 2014 Close In 2014, Channing Tatum was cast as Gambit in a Fox movie that was never made. Things in the X-Men universe came so far along that a spinoff movie for Gambit was planned. The film went through several directors, including Rupert Wyatt, Doug Liman, and Gore Verbinski, but was never able to make it into production. That said, Tatum finally got a chance to play Gambit, thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine's cameos.
This is not the first X-Men spinoff that did not materialize. After X-Men Origins: Wolverine‘s poor reception, the studio canceled a planned Magento origin film and instead made X-Men: First Class. However, it may be the most disappointing X-Men film that was never made. In 2023, Tatum expressed heartbreak that Gambit would never happen:

“It got swallowed up into Disney by way of Marvel when they bought Fox, and ultimately I just think that the tone of the movie we wanted to make was very far from what they wanted to do—or, you know, maybe they’re waiting to see how they do it with us or without us. We call every once in a while, but we’ve got to spiritually, emotionally, kind of mentally let it go."

The 21 Jump Street star has spoken lovingly of the card-throwing hero throughout the years and really wished to make a film about him come about. Notably, Gambit has had very little live-action screen time for such a popular character. Taylor Kitsch played the character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but Gambit has not shown up anywhere else in live-action until now.
How Deadpool & Wolverine Gets Justice For Channing Tatum's Gambit Tatum Always Wanted To Play The Role Of Gambit Close When Tatum first appears in Deadpool & Wolverine, he enters the screen, flipping a playing card in his hand. Following this, Gambit emerges fully formed, wearing his classic outfit straight from the pages of the comic books or the 1990s cartoons. Tatum then gets to speak in a Cajun accent, even if it is a poor and silly accent that is the butt of many jokes. He then gets to continue in the movie for several scenes, including an exciting fight scene where he holds his purple staff and throws cards.
With the planned Gambit movie being a passion project for Tatum, this would likely have been immensely satisfying for the actor.
Seeing something like this is so interesting inside the larger Marvel context. Surely, most audiences had accepted by now that Tatum would never play the New Orleans mutant. Going against that expectation, this sequence allows the performer to show off his version of the Gambit character. With the planned Gambit movie being a passion project for Tatum, this would likely have been immensely satisfying for the actor. Like Superman's appearance in The Flash, the sequence gives audiences a clever look at what may have been.
Related X-Men ’97’s Gambit Death Was Sad, But I'll Never Get Over The Other Tragedy Nobody Talks About Following Gambit’s brave sacrifice, the devastating and heartbreaking loss of one other X-Men "97 character has not been given enough attention.
1 Will Channing Tatum's Gambit Get His Own Movie In The MCU? Gambit Will Likely Be Recast In The Marvel Cinematic Universe Close Anything is possible in the future of the MCU. However, it seems very unlikely that Channing Tatum's Gambit will get his own movie in the series. The appearance of Tatum as the hero in Deadpool & Wolverine feels akin to when popular fan-cast choice John Krasinski appeared as Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This featured appearance is, therefore, likely to be little more than fan service. While it does give a fun look at what may have been, it is unlikely Tatum's Gambit will ever be seen again.
Now is the time to recast the X-Men in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As Marvel has moved forward with hiring writers for a new X-Men movie, old ideas will need to be left behind. The character was not featured prominently in the Fox films. However, it does seem likely that Gambit will be a member of the X-Men in the upcoming MCU reboot. Many believe Elvis' Austin Butler would be perfect for the role. Whoever they get to play the role, however, the character of Gambit will likely be integral to the future of the MCU.
Deadpool & Wolverine is full of exciting and engaging story beats and cameos. Granted, the inclusion of Channing Tatum's Gambit may be the most special and the least expected. Seeing any of these casting stories that never came together actually get the chance to be featured in a major film like this makes for such a rare and unique treat. While Tatum will likely not appear in his Deadpool & Wolverine role again, his inclusion in the film is memorable and valuable and helps to make the future of the MCU feel bright and promising.
Deadpool & Wolverine A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
Director Shawn Levy Release Date July 26, 2024 Cast Ryan Reynolds , Hugh Jackman , Emma Corrin , Morena Baccarin , Rob Delaney , Leslie Uggams , Karan Soni , Matthew Macfadyen , Brianna Hildebrand , Shioli Kutsuna , Stefan Kapicic , Lewis Tan , Randal Reeder , Jennifer Garner , Aaron Stanford , Billy Clements , Ollie Palmer , Chris Hemsworth , Rob McElhenney Expand Upcoming MCU Movies
Release Date
Deadpool & Wolverine
July 26, 2024
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February 14, 2025
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The Fantastic Four
July 25, 2025
Blade
November 7, 2025
Avengers 5
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Avengers: Secret Wars
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