Marvel finally redeems an iconic X-Men member that Fox cut from three of its movies in Deadpool & Wolverine. The X-Men have maintained a constant presence in the superhero movie landscape, but the studios often shuffle which members get the most focus. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was the star for a long time, and that continues to be the case as Deadpool & Wolverine breaks records at the box office. Other characters, like Professor X and Magneto, have received the spotlight, along with Cyclops, Beast, Nightcrawler, Mystique, and Jean Grey.
Some characters shined in X-Men: The Animated Series, but never received the same treatment in a live-action film. Gambit is a fan-favorite from the animated series, but he has only appeared in one film and never with the main team. Despite efforts to give him his own movie, Gambit has always been the forgotten team member in the Fox X-Men movies. However, Marvel made up for that recently with two 2024 projects that show respect to the Cajun mutant.
Channing Tatum’s Gambit Finally Debuted In Deadpool & Wolverine
In 2014, Channing Tatum signed on to play Gambit in a solo movie. The project was stuck in development hell for five years, with multiple directors, like Doug Liman and Gore Verbinski, attaching themselves to the project, before leaving it later. When Disney acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019, the studio scrapped the Gambit movie, ending its long and frustrating development process. According to a 2022 interview with potential director Reid Carolin for Variety, the film was already cast and would have been an R-rated “romantic comedy superhero movie.”
After 10 years of trying to get Gambit on screen, Tatum’s wish finally came true in Deadpool & Wolverine. The Magic Mike actor has a significant role as Remy LeBeau, who has been stuck in the Void hiding from Cassandra Nova. He is part of a resistance group featuring Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, Wesley Snipes’ Blade, and Dafne Keen’s X-23. Tatum’s Gambit isn’t just an Easter egg, as he delivers an awesome fight sequence and a few hilarious lines of dialogue. While Wade Wilson has trouble understanding him, it’s cool to hear and see what Tatum’s Gambit movie could have been.
Gambit Was Planned To Appear In THREE X-Men Movies
Before Deadpool & Wolverine, Gambit only appeared in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, portrayed by Taylor Kitsch. However, the character was meant to appear in three other Fox X-Men movies, but was left on the cutting room floor. His first appearance was supposed to be in X2, played by James Bamford, who was also Wolverine’s stunt double. His scene would have taken place during the Dark Cerebro sequence where he would blow up a table. His scene was cut from the film and didn’t make it onto the DVD either.
His second appearance was the most egregious missed opportunity, as Keanu Reeves was going to play him in X-Men: The Last Stand. Channing Tatum auditioned for the role in The Last Stand, along with James Franco and Gregory Helms. His third cut appearance was in X-Men: Days of Future Past. According to director Bryan Singer, Gambit, Rachel Summers, Psylocke, Jubilee, Nightcrawler, and Deadpool were part of the large roster of mutants, but were cut to shorten the run time. It’s unknown who would have played him in this film.
Gambit Had A Memorable Sacrifice In X-Men ’97
While Gambit was a crucial part of the 1990s X-Men: The Animated Series, his storyline was usually not the main focus. However, X-Men ’97 put him in the spotlight during the show’s most thrilling event and gave him a heartbreaking, but heroic scene. During the massacre on Genosha, Gambit fights the wild sentinel by himself. After getting fatally wounded by the robot, he uses his remaining kinetic energy to blow up the sentinel, saving the surviving mutants but sacrificing himself in the process. It’s a memorable moment, and Rogue’s emotional reaction shows Gambit’s impact on others.
While Gambit could come back through the team’s time travel adventures in X-Men ’97 season 2, Gambit’s death was shocking, and it forced X-Men viewers to remember why Gambit was awesome. It also was a great way to introduce the hero to newcomers, who were less familiar with the character. Gambit wanted to make a name for himself in Deadpool & Wolverine, and Marvel gave him that privilege in two fantastic 2024 projects. It’s unknown if he’ll be part of the MCU’s X-Men team, but Kevin Feige should consider putting him in the lineup.
