The story behind one Marvel casting decision has finally come into focus, as a familiar TV star opens up about being dropped from Fox’s X-Men universe before cameras ever rolled.
More than a decade after its release, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) remains a frequent point of discussion among Marvel fans, less for its storytelling highs and more for the long shadow it cast over Fox’s mutant plans. Intended as the launchpad for a series of character-driven spinoffs, the film’s legacy is complicated, marked by missed opportunities and franchise detours.
Arriving in theaters in 2009, the project was positioned as Wolverine’s first true solo adventure, once again anchored by Hugh Jackman as Logan. The cast featured several characters designed to branch into their own stories, including Liev Schreiber’s feral Sabretooth, Ryan Reynolds’ radically reworked Deadpool, and a handful of younger mutants meant to populate future films. On paper, the strategy was clear. On screen, reactions were far more divided.
Despite earning approximately $373 million worldwide, X-Men Origins: Wolverine struggled to win over critics. Reviews often pointed to tonal whiplash, noticeable editing issues, and narrative decisions that frustrated longtime fans, particularly regarding Deadpool’s depiction. While Jackman’s performance remained a bright spot, the film cooled enthusiasm for Fox’s proposed spinoff slate and reshaped the studio’s long-term X-Men approach.
Among the characters positioned for expansion was Gambit, the card-throwing Cajun mutant who briefly appeared in the film, played by Taylor Kitsch. Even at the time, the introduction felt fleeting, prompting speculation about what a fuller version of the character might have looked like on screen.
That speculation gained new fuel when Josh Holloway, widely recognized for his role as Sawyer on ABC’s Lost from 2004–2010, revealed that he had originally been cast as Gambit before being unexpectedly replaced. Speaking recently, Holloway detailed a rapid reversal that came after he believed the role was secure.
“Well, Gambit was one. As a matter of fact, I read with Hugh Jackman and got the part. They hugged me, said, ‘You’re it! I’ll see you on set,'” Holloway told Collider at Fan Expo Portland. “By the end of that evening, the studio head had called and said, ‘We want someone 10 years younger.’ So they got Taylor Kitsch. Which, I wonder if he could come back? Who knows, but thank you. I learned the card tricks and everything.”
The casting change marked just one chapter in Gambit’s unusually complicated screen history.
Years later, Channing Tatum took up the mantle as the character’s most vocal supporter. For nearly a decade, Tatum remained attached to a standalone Gambit film that cycled through directors and creative concepts.
The project reportedly leaned toward a romantic and stylistic reinvention of the character rather than a standard superhero template. Despite sustained momentum behind the scenes, the film was shelved following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
Still, Gambit’s live-action future wasn’t finished. Tatum ultimately debuted as the character in Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine, released in 2024. The crossover, which reunited Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, performed strongly at the box office and reintroduced Gambit to audiences within a Marvel Cinematic Universe framework, reigniting conversation about how the character fits into the Multiverse.
Marvel Studios has since confirmed that Tatum’s Gambit will return in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday, announced last year as part of Phase Six. The confirmation places Gambit alongside the MCU’s central heroes in one of the studio’s largest upcoming releases, a notable shift for a character once trapped in development uncertainty.
Gambit has also resurfaced in animation. X-Men ’97 reintroduced the character as part of Marvel’s continuation of the 1990s animated series. While the show has drawn strong responses, its momentum was complicated by controversy involving former showrunner Beau DeMayo, whose exit amid misconduct allegations raised questions about the series’ creative future. Despite those concerns, the revival has kept Gambit in the public eye.
From an almost-forgotten casting with Josh Holloway to a brief theatrical appearance by Taylor Kitsch and a long-delayed payoff for Channing Tatum, Gambit’s path through Marvel media has been anything but straightforward. With Avengers: Doomsday approaching and animated projects moving forward, the character appears closer than ever to finding a lasting foothold on screen.
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