Channing Tatum Lauds Ryan Reynolds For Giving Him the Opportunity to Play Gambit
Once upon a time, it looked like Channing Tatum was set to star as the X-Man Gambit in his own stand-alone movie. The film was to be produced by 20th Century Fox and set in the larger X-Men live-action universe.
In May 2014, Tatum signed on to play the iconic Marvel character, with the idea that he would introduce his version of the mutant in X-Men Apocalypse. When Fox added a Gambit stand-alone film to its 2016 release schedule, it looked like everything was a go.
Over the next four years, however, the film would linger in development hell. Despite Tatum’s attachment to the character and his love of the source material, everything that could go wrong with the Gambit film did.
![Gambit X-Men 97](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Gambit-X_Men-97-1024x576.jpg)
![Gambit X-Men 97](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Gambit-X_Men-97-1024x576.jpg)
Photo: Marvel
Rupert Wyatt, Doug Liman, and Gore Verbinski were variously attached to the project, but nothing materialized.
Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox in 2019 would prove to be the death knell for Gambit. Tatum’s hopes seemed dashed.
Then, Ryan Reynolds called.
Tatum Finally Got His Chance
Tatum finally got the chance to play Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine. The film even joked about the trouble the actor had getting his Gambit film made. For Tatum and fans alike, it was a dream come true.
Following the release of Deadpool & Wolverine and an overwhelmingly positive response to his portrayal of Gambit, Tatum took to social media to thank Reynolds for affording him the opportunity to finally play the character.
In the post, Tatum shared two side-by-side photos of him and Reynolds at Comic-Con, along with a heartfelt message.
These pictures are almost 10 years apart to the day. I sat in the audience when Ryan Reynolds showed his first peek of Deadpool 1 to the world and I think I ran back stage right after and found him and I think I just hugged him and was like holy shit you did it man. It’s perfect.… pic.twitter.com/B5viY2f7nl
— Channing Tatum (@channingtatum) July 30, 2024
“These pictures are almost 10 years apart to the day. I sat in the audience when Ryan Reynolds showed his first peek of Deadpool 1 to the world and I think I ran back stage right after and found him and I think I just hugged him and was like [wow] you did it man. It’s perfect,” Tatum wrote.
“I didn’t know him really at all back then. But since then I can say that there is almost no one that has had my back in this industry more than @VancityReynolds.”
![Channing Tatum Gambit](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tatum-Gambit-1024x576.jpg)
![Channing Tatum Gambit](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tatum-Gambit-1024x576.jpg)
Photo: Marvel
Also shouting out director Shawn Levy, Tatum revealed that “I thought I had lost Gambit forever,” but Reynolds “fought for me and Gambit.”
“I will owe him probably forever,” Tatum said. “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 concluded.
Reynolds Lauds Tatum
After Tatum’s heartfelt message, Reynolds responded in turn, lauding both the actor’s performance and his character.
Imagine having a front row seat to this guy. He’s not only a once in a generation talent but a genuinely GOOD man. I know what it feels like to WILL a character into existence and Chan did just that. Then he put the most vivid/authentic version of the character onscreen. This was… https://t.co/soFKdOe2Bv
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) July 30, 2024
“Imagine having a front row seat to this guy. He’s not only a once in a generation talent but a genuinely GOOD man. I know what it feels like to WILL a character into existence and Chan did just that,” he wrote.
“Then he put the most vivid/authentic version of the character onscreen. This was our second San Diego Comic Con. Two of the best days of my life happened while @channingtatum wore this shirt. Coincidence or conspiracy?”
Nearly 10 years after Tatum first signed on to play Gambit, the actor finally got his chance.
![Channing tatum](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Channing-Tatum-Gambit-1024x634.jpg)
![Channing tatum](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Channing-Tatum-Gambit-1024x634.jpg)
Photo: Marvel
Deadpool & Wolverine is in theaters now.
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