Marvel Execs Are ‘Obsessed’ With Channing Tatum as Gambit, Says Ryan Reynolds: ‘Sometimes They Just Need to See It in Action’
Does Channing Tatum’s Gambit have a future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? A definitive answer has yet to be revealed, but Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds revealed on Entertainment Weekly’s “Awardist” podcast that Marvel executives are quite high on Tatum after his Gambit debut in this summer’s record-breaking tentpole “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
“I honestly don’t know what goes on behind closed doors in the bookkeeping sessions at Marvel, but I do know that they’re obsessed with him in that role,” Reynolds said. “It’s kind of like the same situation I went through. Once you show that it works well, that’s really what they need. Sometimes they just need to see it in action.”
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“And Channing is so singular in how he plays that character,” Reynolds added, “but also he’s so beautiful physically, the way he moves and the way he can pick up steps.”
When Reynolds said it’s the “same situation” he went through, he’s referring to the 2014 leaked Deadpool test footage that finally convinced 20th Century Fox it was time to make a Deadpool movie. The actor admitted earlier this year that he “might have provided an assist” in the leak that resulted in his superhero franchise, although he would not confirm.
While Reynolds does not know any specifics about Tatum’s Gambit future, he did say “I hope so” when asked if another go round for him is in the cards.
Tatum’s Gambit was one of the big surprise cameos in “Deadpool & Wolverine” along with Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, Wesley Snipes’ Blade and Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm. Tatum spent years during Fox’s Marvel era trying to get a Gambit movie off the ground but it never happened by the time Disney bought the studio. “Deadpool & Wolverine” finally gave Tatum the chance to realize his Gambit dreams on the big screen, and he’s fully on board with playing the superhero again.
In an interview with Variety, Tatum admitted that he still wants to make a standalone Gambit movie, adding: “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.”
After “Deadpool & Wolverine” broke records at the box office during its opening weekend, Tatum took to social media to share an emotional statement on finally getting the chance to play Gambit on the big screen.
“I thought I had lost Gambit forever. But [Reynolds] fought for me and Gambit,” he wrote. “I will owe him probably forever. Cause I’m not sure how I could ever do something that would be equal to what this has meant to me. I love ya buddy…I’m so grateful to be in this movie. It’s a masterpiece in my opinion. And just pure bad ass joy. I was literally screaming in the theater.”
“Deadpool & Wolverine” streams Nov. 12 on Disney+.
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