Bringing to life comic book characters isn’t always easy, especially on the big screen and when there’s a devoted fanbase.
Taylor Kitsch was the first to play a live-action version of Gambit, appearing in a small role alongside Hugh Jackman in X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009. He took on the role that was originally intended for Channing Tatum, with Tatum unable to be in the movie due to scheduling conflicts.
After the 2009 movie, Kitsch never returned as Gambit and was replaced by Tatum in Deadpool & Wolverine in the MCU. Tatum officially took up the role of Gambit, having a bigger supporting role and scheduled to appear in Avengers: Doomsday.
Sixteen years later, Kitsch looks back on his Gambit role and how he feels having lost it to Tatum. In aninterview with ScreenRant, promoting his new show The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, the actor reveals it simply wasn’t in the cards for him.
When asked about Tatum’s version, the actor admits he hasn’t seen it, and talking about it isn’t a tough subject.
“No, no, not at all, man. That’s the business, man. It’s all good. It’s like I love the path I’m on and the actor I’ve become and the stories I’m engaging in. No pun intended, here’s a quote for you, but Gambit wasn’t in the cards for me, man,” explained the actor.
Joining the MCU is considered a major career milestone with a heavily established fanbase. Kitsch admits he’s open to the possibility of returning, but doesn’t have his sights set on it amid his other career opportunities.
“Never say never, but I don’t know, man. I’ve got this book right here, 11 Days in Hell. That’s my next project. It’s something I can’t wait to service,” he explained.
While showing his excitement over playing a director of corrections in the Peter Landesman-directed project, Kitsch said, “I pride myself on playing very different people and characters and stories.”
He later added, “And I think this is my eighth guy that I’m playing that has lived literally. So that’s always incredibly flattering when you get those calls. So I don’t know. I love where I’m at, man, so I have no regrets with it. It just wasn’t, sometimes it’s not in my power to say who’s who or who gets to play what. So I can only focus on the people that want to work with me and collaborate with me.”
Kitsch stars in The Terminal List: Dark Wolf alongside Chris Pratt, Luke Hemsworth, Tom Hopper, and Rona-Lee Shimon. The series airs on Prime Video on August 27.
Taylor Kitsch Reflects on Losing Gambit Role to Channing Tatum in MCU first appeared on Men’s Journal on Aug 15, 2025
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