One ‘X-Men ’97’ Star Revealed That He Auditioned For 2000’s Live-Action Movie
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has come to dominate the superhero genre over the last 16 years, there was a time when the X-Men reigned supreme at the box office.
Beginning with 2000’s X-Men, Fox created the first true Marvel cinematic universe with its collection of interconnected X-Men films.
Interestingly enough, however, the development of the live-action franchise was largely sparked by the success of X-Men: The Animated Series from the 1990s.
With Deadpool & Wolverine set to bridge the gap between the Marvel X-Men films and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and X-Men ’97 an undeniable hit on streaming, the early X-Men properties are back in the spotlight.
Chris Potter’s X-Men Journey
One man who has been heavily involved in the story of the X-Men for decades is Chris Potter.
Potter voiced Gambit in X-Men: The Animated Series, helping the Cajun mutant become one of Marvel’s most popular characters. Nearly 30 years later, Potter now voices Cable in X-Men ’97.
As it turns out, Potter almost made the jump to live action, playing a third X-Men.
Auditioning For Cyclops
During a recent appearance at the 2024 Calgary Expo panel, Potter revealed that he auditioned for the role of Scott Summers/Cyclops in the 2000 live-action X–Men.
“I auditioned for Cyclops for Bryan Singer’s X-Men movie in the 2000s and the whole time I was thinking ‘I don’t want to do this, I want to be Gambit! Why isn’t he in the movie?’” Potter recalled to those in attendance, according to Agents of Fandom.
Eventually, the role would go to James Marsden.
Gambit Has Been Overlook in Live Action
While Gambit has been an undeniable star in both comic books and animation, the X-Men character has yet to make a successful jump into life action. The character did not appear at all in the live-action X-Men films until he was portrayed by Taylor Kitsch in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Later, it was reported that Channing Tatum was set to star in a Gambit solo movie. That project was eventually shelved.