Deadpool & Wolverine is a delightfully dirty superhero movie with multiversal mishaps. It’s also a very clever commentary on the transience of franchise movies. What happens to the characters in an aborted cinematic universe? As such, the movie features a plethora of cameos from versions of characters we know from previous films, most of whom don’t have a home anymore. And some never had a home to begin with. One particular Deadpool & Wolverine cameo made a 10-year promise a hilarious reality.
When Deadpool and Wolverine end up in the Void, they meet a number of variants and characters from pruned universes. Among these are characters like X-23, Elektra, and Johnny Storm. But one character, and more specifically one actor, who shows up is none other than Channing Tatum, finally playing Gambit. For those who don’t know, Tatum had been 20th Century Fox’s choice to play Gambit in the X-Men universe from 2006. Initially, he wanted to do it but was unavailable. Eventually Gambit did appear, with Taylor Kitsch’s less-than-popular turn in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
All the way back in 2014, producer Lauren Shuler Donner signed Tatum to play Gambit for Fox in a solo movie. Presumably, once that movie was a hit, he’d eventually join the rest of the X-Men. Almost immediately after the agreement, the project went into development hell. Directors like Rise of the Planet of the Apes‘ Rupert Wyatt, The Bourne Identity‘s Doug Liman, and Pirates of the Caribbean‘s Gore Verbinski all signed on to direct at various points. Tatum and producing partner Reid Carolin also lobbied to direct.
Tatum was introduced on stage at the 2015 Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con. That panel also debuted teasers for both X-Men: Apocalypse and the first Deadpool. That’s how gosh-darn long ago it was. The project had been on the books for Fox every year after. Disney canned the movie officially when they bought 20th Century in 2019. But even as recently as 2022, Tatum said he’d still like the chance to play Remy LeBeau.
Tatum in Deadpool & Wolverine represents the culmination of the actor’s entire career. Certainly not in heft or resonance, but just in time spent. He wears the comic-accurate Gambit costume, talks in a ridiculously over the top Cajun accent, and makes several references to never being outside the Void. It’s not only an awesome character to have in a big fight scene, but for people who’ve wanted a Tatum Gambit movie for decades, it’s a lovely sigh of relief.
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.