Picking a favorite cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine is no easy task, and choosing the most surprising one might be even tougher. However, one cameo that stood out was Channing Tatum’s appearance as Gambit. For years, Tatum was set to play the Cajun mutant, but the role never materialized—until now.
In Deadpool & Wolverine, Tatum finally donned Gambit’s iconic purple suit, showcasing his skills with cards and his staff. Seeing him on screen, taking down Cassandra Nova’s henchmen with style, was a real treat. Tatum seemed to be having a blast, and understandably so—fulfilling a long-held dream role must be exhilarating.
On July 30, Tatum shared a heartfelt post on X, expressing his gratitude to Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy for making this dream come true. The post featured two photos of Tatum: one from a sneak peek of the original Deadpool film and another from San Diego Comic-Con 2024, where he joined other Deadpool & Wolverine stars on stage. Tatum’s emotional message read, “I thought I had lost Gambit forever. But he fought for me and Gambit. 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.” He also mentioned that he didn’t know Reynolds well back then but appreciated the support from their first meeting.
Tatum admitted to being a huge fan, saying he was “literally screaming in the theater.” We get it—many of us had the same reaction when seeing Gambit and other returning characters like Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Garner, and Dafne Keen. It was a thrilling two hours for fans.
There’s hope for Tatum’s Gambit to return. Kevin Feige has hinted that Deadpool & Wolverine might be just the beginning for mutants in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars coming up in 2026 and 2027, respectively, there’s a good chance Gambit could make a return.
For now, though, let’s celebrate Gambit’s debut and look forward to more mutant adventures in the future.
