Channing Tatum Adds Mystery to His Role in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

For over ten years, Channing Tatum fought to get a Gambit movie made. In May 2014, the actor signed on to play the iconic mutant, with the idea that we would introduce his version of Gambit in X-Men Apocolypse before starring in a standalone film.

When a Gambit film was added to Fox’s 2016 release schedule, Tatum’s dreams seemed to be coming true.

Over the next four years, however, the Gambit film would linger in development hell. While Tatum remained committed to both the character and the film, directors, screenwriters, and release dates continued to come and go.

(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

When Disney purchased 20th Century Fox in 2019, Tatum’s dreams seemed to have come to an end.

Then, Ryan Reynolds came calling.

Tatum’s Gambit Debuted in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

Tatum’s dreams of playing Gambit were finally realized last year when he portrayed the fan-favorite X-Man in Deadpool & Wolverine.

The actor’s performance was largely praised by fans, who also hoped that Gambit would return in future Marvel films. A deleted scene from Deadpool & Wolverine seemed to hit that the rouge X-Man would do just that.

Photo: Marvel

Then, last month, Marvel revealed the cast for Avengers: Doomsday, confirming fans’ suspicions that Tatum had not made his last appearance in the MCU.

Will Gamit Return in ‘Doomsday’?

When Channing Tatum was among the list of returning stars announced for Doomsday (which included several Avengers, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, and Thunderbolts actors), it appeared that Gambit would definitely return in the film.

In a recent interview with Extra, however, Tatum played coy about suiting up as Gambit again.

“Personally, all I was guaranteed was a chair. They said that I have a chair, and I can at least watch the movie from the chair,” he said.

“You know, and it was just my name, it wasn’t exactly Gambit. So, I work in the world of just like, of binary yes or no’s, and I’ve only been guaranteed so far a chair to watch the movie in, so that’s where I’m at.”

Photo: Marvel

Despite Tatum’s verbal gymnastics, it seems inevitable that Gambit will appear in Avengers: Doomsday. Perhaps, however, Marvel will surprise us.

The film will hit theaters on May 1, 2026.