Marvel is ‘obsessed with him in that role’

It’s unclear what the future holds for Channing Tatum’s Gambit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after his triumphant debut in Deadpool and Wolverinebut the film’s actor, writer and executive producer Ryan Reynolds says Marvel is “obsessed” with this performance. Some might say that’s a good sign.

“I honestly don’t know what goes on behind closed doors in the bookkeeping sessions at Marvel, but I know they’re obsessed with him in that role,” Reynolds says of Tatum’s card-slinging Cajun mutant on Weekly entertainment‘s Awardist podcast. “It’s kind of like the same situation I went through. Once you show it works well, that’s really what they need. Sometimes they just need to see it in action.”

Reynolds refers to the test footage of his Deadpool that leaked in 2014 and proved to the studio that there was enough hype to move forward with a film. Earlier this year, Reynolds admitted that he “may have provided an assist” in that leak. In the same way, he hopes Deadpool and Wolverine could be a proof of concept for Marvel to bring back Tatum as Gambit.

“And Channing is so unique in how he plays that character,” Reynolds continues, “but he’s also so beautiful physically, the way he moves and the way he can take steps.”

Prior to Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, the studio that originally owned the film rights to such Marvel heroes as X-Men, Blade and Daredevil, Tatum was set to star in his own Gambit film, portraying the fan-favorite member of the X team with the power to convert potential energy into kinetic energy. In other words, giving anything he touches an explosive charge, most often using a deck of playing cards and a staff as his signature offensive weapons.

The film completely shut down development when Disney added Fox to its roster, but Reynolds and director Shawn Levy were able to let Tatum realize his dream of playing the character in Deadpool and Wolverinewhich is also an ode to the Fox era of Marvel movies. The team released a not-quite-deleted scene online to show that Gambit survives in the end. (The scene appeared on a small screen in the background of one particular scene, but it went mostly unnoticed until Reynolds & co. released it in its entirety online.)

However, it is not yet known whether there is a second chance for Tatum. “I hope so,” notes Reynolds.

Listen to the full EW Awardist podcast episode with Reynolds, Levy and Hugh Jackman as they discuss Deadpool and Wolverineincluding the time they tried to get Nicolas Cage to return as Ghost Rider.