Channing Tatum's Gambit: The Ragin' Cajun's Wild Ride to 'Avengers: Doomsday'

Channing Tatum is finally living his X-Men dream as Gambit, and he’s spilling the tea on the character's future in Avengers: Doomsday, plus the super wild R-rated solo movie we almost got!

TL;DR: Quick Bites on Gambit's MCU Journey

• Channing Tatum's long-desired Gambit solo movie at Fox was scrapped, but he describes it as an "R-rated romantic comedy" with "mutants having sex!"
• He made his debut as the card-slinging mutant in 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine and will reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday.
• Tatum promises Doomsday will be "even more delicious" and "make your brains ooze out of your ears," with Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom!

From Scrapped Solo Flick to Multiverse Maven: Gambit's Long Road

Talk about a journey! Channing Tatum has been wanting to play Gambit for what feels like an eternity. Seriously, this dude was ready to throw charged playing cards way back when Fox was still calling the shots for the X-Men Movies. Life, or rather, studio mergers, had other plans, and his standalone Gambit flick ended up stuck in development hell before Disney swooped in and bought Fox.

But hey, good things come to those who wait (and keep campaigning for a role!). Tatum finally got to don the trench coat and master that Cajun accent as Remy LeBeau in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine. And guess what? He's not stopping there. Our favorite "Ragin' Cajun" is set to make a much bigger splash in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe epic, Avengers: Doomsday.

The 'Wild, Full-On' R-Rated Gambit Movie That Never Saw the Light of Day

Before his official MCU debut, Tatum was cooking up something truly unique for Gambit. He recently opened up to Variety about his scrapped Fox-era Gambit project, and let's just say it would've been unlike any Marvel movie we'd seen before, even compared to the likes of Deadpool. Tatum described it as an "R-rated romantic comedy" that would have pushed boundaries to the absolute limit.

"When I say R-rated, I mean we went for it. We made Gambit the kind of character who could only exist in a movie with Deadpool. We had mutants having sex! It was wild – full-on."

— Channing Tatum, via Variety

Yep, you read that right: mutants having sex. Tatum believes that kind of content would "never gotten made" in the current Disney/Marvel landscape, even with Deadpool & Wolverine being the MCU's first R-rated entry. He pointed out that while Disney's future can be unpredictable, some things are clear: "It's not gonna be horror. It's not gonna be sex." He also thinks Marvel could use "tonal diversity" and that Gambit would be a "great opportunity" for it. Maybe one day, they'll "figure it out." For now, it seems those wild, full-on romantic comedy vibes are staying in the "what if" pile.

Channing Tatum's Deep Connection to Gambit's Character

For Tatum, playing Gambit isn't just another role; it's a dream come true. He told interviewers that Gambit was his "favorite character growing up." He literally remembers being a kid in Pascagoula, Mississippi, "throwing playing cards at my friends in the living room when I was like in third grade." That's dedication!

He sees Gambit as the "most real out of all of the X-Men." What does that mean exactly? Well, Tatum explained that Gambit "liked women, he smoked, he drank. His moral compass was very gray. He was never going to be a villain. He didn't have the heart to be a villain, but he wasn't exactly a hero, hero. And, I think that's very human." This nuanced portrayal of a character who walks the line between good and bad is clearly something Tatum deeply connects with, and he's thrilled that Ryan Reynolds gave him the chance to bring his vision to life in Deadpool & Wolverine.

What to Expect from Gambit in the Highly Anticipated 'Avengers: Doomsday'

So, what about Gambit's next big screen adventure? Tatum promises that in Avengers: Doomsday, Remy LeBeau will still be "the Cajun," "the raging Cajun he is." While his appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine was a fun, brief cameo, Doomsday is where we'll likely see him integrate more fully into the wider MCU narrative. This will be the true "testing ground" to see how a character from Deadpool's often irreverent world plays alongside the more established MCU heroes.

And Tatum's excitement for Doomsday is palpable. He's calling his upcoming role "even more delicious than I can even describe." He's confident that the Russo brothers (who, according to Tatum, directed the film) have outdone themselves yet again. After reading the script, Tatum confessed his initial question was, "How are you guys going to pull this story off?"

His answer? "It's going to make your brains ooze out of your ears. Like in the way I knew when Blade walks on screen in Deadpool & Wolverine, people are going to physically lose their actual minds." He even upped the ante, saying Doomsday will have moments like Blade's cameo, but "times 50!" Get ready for some serious mind-blowing superhero action!

'Avengers: Doomsday' Details: Cast, Release, and the Return of Doctor Doom

Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be an absolute powerhouse, promising to bring together an unprecedented roster of heroes (and villains!). The film is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026, and principal photography wrapped up on September 19, 2025.

Here's a look at some of the confirmed and rumored big names:

Confirmed Cast Highlights for 'Avengers: Doomsday':

• Channing Tatum as Gambit
• Sir Patrick Stewart as Professor X
• Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto
• Kelsey Grammer as Beast
• Rebecca Romijn as Mystique
• Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler
• James Marsden as Cyclops
• Robert Downey Jr. as Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom (The big bad of the film!)

Yes, you read that right – Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU, but this time as the iconic villain Doctor Doom! This is huge news for fans who've been craving a truly formidable antagonist for the Multiverse Saga.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has hinted that there are "more unannounced heroes" who will also appear, promising more surprises. Rumors are flying about appearances from a version of Ghost Rider, a Spider-Man variant (could it be Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, or Tobey Maguire?), and possibly even Hugh Jackman's Wolverine joining the X-Men crew.

The Enormous Challenge of Exceeding 'Endgame's' Unforgettable Hype

While the excitement for Avengers: Doomsday is through the roof, it faces a colossal challenge: living up to, or even surpassing, the incredible hype of Avengers: Endgame. Tatum himself noted this, wondering how the Russo brothers could possibly outdo their previous work, especially since Endgame was the culmination of a decade-long storyline, the Infinity Saga, which had a truly organic build-up.

The Multiverse Saga, on the other hand, has been a bit more spread out across numerous movies and TV shows. Some critics and fans feel the overarching narrative hasn't quite gelled in the same way, potentially relying more on nostalgia and cameos than a cohesive, long-form story. Even with Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom, his character hasn't had the kind of development that Thanos did leading into Endgame.

However, Tatum's enthusiastic comments suggest the creative team has something genuinely spectacular planned. If they can deliver on the promise of "brains oozing out of your ears" with meaningful character moments and a coherent story, then Avengers: Doomsday might just manage to defy expectations and give fans the epic conclusion they deserve.

Will We Ever Get a Solo Gambit Film in the MCU?

With Tatum now firmly established as Gambit in the MCU, the question naturally arises: will he ever get that solo film he's always dreamed of? Tatum himself believes "one day they'll figure it out." While he's confirmed for Doomsday, his involvement in the subsequent Avengers: Secret Wars is currently unknown, as production hasn't started on that Multiverse Saga finale.

The X-Men are expected to play a huge role in Phase 7 of the MCU, so a solo Gambit project could potentially get its due then. But it will undoubtedly be a more PG-13 version than the "wild, full-on" R-rated romantic comedy that was originally envisioned. Regardless, having Gambit slowly but surely being "built into the Marvel psyche" is exciting news for fans of the charming, card-wielding mutant.

So mark your calendars for December 18, 2026! It sounds like Avengers: Doomsday is going to be an unforgettable ride, with Channing Tatum's Gambit right in the thick of it.

FAQ: Your Burning Questions About Channing Tatum's Gambit and 'Avengers: Doomsday' When does Avengers: Doomsday come out? Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 18, 2026. What was Channing Tatum's scrapped Gambit movie going to be like? According to Tatum, his Fox-era Gambit film was planned as an "R-rated romantic comedy" that was "wild – full-on," even featuring "mutants having sex!" He believes Disney/Marvel would never make that version today. Is Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday? Yes! Robert Downey Jr. is confirmed to return in Avengers: Doomsday, portraying Victor von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom. What other X-Men characters are in Avengers: Doomsday with Gambit? Alongside Channing Tatum's Gambit, confirmed X-Men characters include Sir Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, and James Marsden as Cyclops. Sources

• ScreenRant
• FandomWire
• ComicBook.com
• Cinemablend
• The News International