10 Best Ways The MCU Can Bring Back Gambit After Deadpool & Wolverine

The reception to seeing Channing Tatum join the MCU as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine has sparked incredible excitement for fans everywhere, but it remains to be seen whether the character will return down the line in other places. Gambit may not be the most prominent character in Marvel’s comics or even in Marvel shows, but his presence in the MCU has sparked renewed love for the card-wielding hero. And, adding to this excitement, Tatum’s casting as the hero has reinvigorated hopes for his continued participation as the character that he was set to play since 2013.

However, with the mutants still largely absent from the MCU, it raises questions of where the hero could even come into the franchise. Fortunately, as the series expands into the Multiverse, and begins to introduce more characters from a variety of different angles, there are several ways for Gambit to appear in the MCU. Whether that means showing up in animated projects, a mainline film, or even being added as an Easter Egg to other projects, Gambit has plenty of opportunities to reappear in the MCU.

10 Channing Tatum’s Gambit Could Become The MCU’s Official Version Of The X-Men Member

First things first, the excitement around Tatum’s casting and performance has to be considered. Tatum absolutely nailed the role of the Cajun hero from the Deep South. It is possible that his version of the character could slot into the MCU and become an official member of the X-Men team when they appear. However, this will likely be dictated by his chemistry with others who are cast, and whether his age and portrayal fits in with the other characters who are featured.

Related Casting The MCU’s Gambit: 10 Actors Who Could Play Remy LeBeau In Live-Action (Other Than Channing Tatum)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe might be better off looking for a new actor for Gambit beyond Channing Tatum for a multitude of different reasons.

However, it’s possible that Marvel Studios will keep the appearance to a minimum and either recast someone else who they deem a better fit, or leave Gambit out of the X-Men team all together. This has happened before, like when Marvel cast John Krasinski in the role of Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards to appease fans for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but then cast Pedro Pascal to play the character in the official MCU film. Disappointing as this may be, it doesn’t necessarily mean Tatum’s version will never be seen again in the MCU.

9 Gambit Would Be Perfect For Avengers: Secret Wars’ Rumored Major Crossover

One of the most highly anticipated projects still to come in the MCU is the massive crossover event that is expected to coincide with Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. These films are expected to feature the largest cast of heroes in the MCU to date, exceeding the huge crossover that was Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. With this, it is possible that Tatum will reprise the role for this moment as a variant of Gambit and get a chance to continue his journey as the character.

However, it is likely that these films will be dangerous for all the heroes involved. As it marks the end of the Multiverse, it will likely be a moment that concludes the stories of many heroes and variants across the MCU. If this is the case, it could also mark the final time that Tatum shows up as Gambit, with his character getting a brief cameo that ultimately ends in his death, or his disappearance from the MCU’s Sacred Timeline.

8 Gambit Could Get His Own MCU Special Presentation

In recent years, Marvel has branched out to create a variety of different projects that highlight characters and stories outside the movies. There are TV shows, animated series, animated shorts, and Special Presentations. So far, the Special Presentation format has only been used for the Werewolf by Night Special and the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. However, this format could be applied to Gambit and some of the other heroes from the void.

Related The Best Part About Channing Tatum’s Gambit In Deadpool & Wolverine Makes A Solo Movie Nearly Impossible

After stealing the scene in his MCU debut, many fans want Channing Tatum’s Gambit to get a solo movie, but the hero’s best part might rule that out.

In Deadpool & Wolverine, the titular heroes encounter a couple of iconic heroes from Marvel history that got fans incredibly excited. Gambit, Elektra, and Blade all returned to a Marvel title as an established team of rebels inside the Void. These heroes could be brought back together to star in a Marvel Special Presentation, which would mean the project would be significantly less costly than a theatrical film, and shorter than a Marvel TV series with several episodes.

7 Gambit Could Star In An MCU Short

However, if the MCU is interested in keeping the story even more minute than that, it could have Gambit come back in a Marvel Short. During the Infinity Saga in particular, Shorts were used frequently to add emphasis and fill in the blanks between movies. Shorts like Item 47, and All Hail the King were able to add to the overall tapestry of the MCU, without taking up significant time or money.

Bringing Gambit back in a Marvel Short would provide another opportunity to connect with the character in a more digestible way. This could provide more context for the scene that appears with Gambit still alive at the end of Deadpool & Wolverine, or look at how the the rebellion within the Void was formed. Otherwise, a Short could be used to show Gambit escaping the Void, or, ahead of the upcoming Avengers movies to show what comes next that connects the hero to Secret Wars if that is where he pops up next.

6 Channing Tatum Could Voice Gambit In What If…?

Another tool in the MCU utility belt is the growing number of Marvel animated shows. The What If…? series has provided over a dozen alternative storylines that highlight incidents across the multiverse in the MCU in just the first two seasons. This has also been a perfect opportunity for characters who are less present in the current MCU to be able to come back and revisit their roles.

2:52 Related Channing Tatum’s Unmade Gambit Movie Explained

Channing Tatum was cast as Gambit a decade ago, but the actor’s solo movie as the X-Men character never got off the ground due to a major reason.

The most notable of which is Peggy Carter, who has starred in several episodes of What If…? as the heroic Captain Carter after taking the super soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers. The same treatment could be applied for Tatum to return and voice Gambit. Considering how well Tatum delivered the authentic Cajun accent, it would be great to see him return in What If…? and own the character within that series.

5 Someone New Could Be Cast In The Role Of Gambit

Another outcome that may be less favorable to die-hard Tatum fans is the possibility that Gambit is brought into the MCU, but with a new actor in the role. Now that the character has been introduced, and there is a clear appetite for the hero to have his time on the big screen, Marvel may choose to find their perfect casting for the role. This could see Gambit return in numerous projects, but it would evidently not be Tatum who plays the hero.

While this is a possibility, the likelihood of Tatum’s success in the role would suggest he has a better chance at landing the role permanently. Obviously, Marvel could see things differently, or like the statements above, Tatum may not fit with the other X-Men castings, but it would be weird for them to see Tatum celebrated in the role and then switch directions. But, either way, it’s a possibility that Gambit will be recast going forward.

4 X-Men ’97 Could Revive The Hero, Despite His Season 1 Fate

Obviously, Gambit has already shown up elsewhere in the MCU recently. In the X-Men ’97 animated series, a show that continued the popular 1990s animated series, Gambit returns as a pivotal part of the show. Throughout the first season, Gambit, a character voiced by A.J. LoCascio, is an important part of the series. However, in season 1, episode 5, he does meet his end in a tragic moment.

Related 10 Actors Who Should Play Gambit In The MCU’s X-Men Reboot

Gambit is one of the most popular mutants in the ranks of the X-Men, so getting his casting just right for the MCU is of the utmost importance.

However, both Marvel, and even the 1990s X-Men animated series do see characters returning from the dead on a fairly regular basis. There is likely some way that Gambit could be brought back, and considering the show’s existence as part of the MCU, it could be a multiversal solution that brings Channing Tatum’s version of the hero to the show. This would be an interesting crossover, but it would also provide a bridge between the MCU proper and the animated show that hasn’t appeared yet in the series.

3 Gambit Could Form The Thieves Guild

Alternatively, Marvel could go all in on Gambit and take a bet on him as the lead of his own Marvel TV show. When it comes to Marvel TV shows like Echo, Daredevil: Born Again, and Hawkeye, the MCU narrows its focus to take a closer look at some street level heroes. This results in heroes that could cross over into bigger projects, but likely continue to exist in a smaller arena that has its own set of adventures.

Gambit also has a perfect comic book superhero team that he could bring together to lead a series of this sort. The Thieves Guild is a group of shady superheroes or anti-heroes that band together to fight crime. Gambit is traditionally the leader of the team within the New Orleans division, and this could be a great premise for a series that stars Tatum and introduces other connecting characters like Black Cat, who could later connect to projects like Spider-Man.

2 An MCU Spin-Off Show Set In The Void Could Star Gambit

However, if the feeling is that Tatum alone is not a strong enough lead, or the character of Gambit is too obscure to head up a series, Marvel Studios could produce a spin-off show set in the Void. The Void would be a great place to start up a spin-off because of the incredible array of possibilities that exist. Like Marvel’s What If…?, the Void is full of potential alternate stories and characters who are just outside the Sacred Timeline.

Related Gambit Cosplay Shows Why He Was a ’90s Icon (& Can Be Again)

One cosplayer perfectly brought Gambit’s ’90s look to life, complete with his confidence and power level, proving how iconic the X-Man really is.

From the Loki variants, to the Deadpool Corps, and the rebellion versus Cassandra and her henchmen, there are a growing number of interesting side characters that exist solely in the Void. It’s also a place where the MCU could place huge heroes and actors like RDJ and Chris Evans, or focus on smaller characters without being picked apart for continuity. Ultimately, the Void would make for an extremely compelling setting for other MCU stars and Marvel characters to appear, and test the waters for characters who have yet to appear in the mainline films.

1 Gambit Could Be A Perfect Easter Egg For Upcoming MCU Releases

But if all else fails, there is every possibility that the MCU could include Gambit as an Easter Egg who crops up in other projects. This outcome has a hugely increased likelihood thanks to the deleted Gambit scene that showed the character walking through the dead bodies of Cassandra’s villains and turning to face the camera. In the fully expanded scene, Gambit’s eyes reflect a magic portal like the one that was used by Deadpool and Wolverine to escape the Void.

This small but significant detail is now out in the world and opens up the potential for Gambit to go literally anywhere in the multiverse. With that kind of flexibility, Marvel Studios could bring the hero back into any project, even for a minor cameo or simple Easter Egg, and this could become a reoccuring bit if Marvel was so inclined. It does feel unlikely that a character like Gambit would be used in this way as it would obviously appear similar to how Stan Lee had regular cameos in Marvel projects, but it is possible thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadpool & Wolverine 4.0 106

Your Rating

5 stars4.5 stars4 stars3.5 stars3 star2.5 stars2 stars1.5 stars1 stars0.5 star Rate Now Submit Rate Now Edit Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

RAction Sci-FiComedySuperhero

A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.

Director Shawn Levy Release Date July 26, 2024 Studio(s) Marvel , Maximum Effort Distributor(s) Disney Writers Rhett Reese , Paul Wernick , Shawn Levy , Ryan Reynolds , Zeb Wells , Rob Liefeld , Fabian Nicieza Cast Ryan Reynolds , Hugh Jackman , Emma Corrin , Morena Baccarin , Rob Delaney , Leslie Uggams , Karan Soni , Matthew Macfadyen , Brianna Hildebrand , Shioli Kutsuna , Stefan Kapicic , Lewis Tan , Randal Reeder , Jennifer Garner , Aaron Stanford , Billy Clements , Ollie Palmer , Chris Hemsworth , Rob McElhenney Character(s) Deadpool , Wolverine , Cassandra Nova , Vanessa Carlysle , Peter , Blind Al , Dopinder , Mr. Paradox , Negasonic Teenage Warhead , Pinkie Pie , Colossus , Shatterstar , Buck , Elektra Natchios , Pyro , Russian , Bar Patron , Thor , TVA Minuteman Runtime 127 Minutes Franchise(s) Deadpool , Marvel Cinematic Universe prequel(s) Deadpool , Deadpool 2 Main Genre Action Expand