Channing Tatum’s Long-Awaited Marvel Solo Might Finally Happen, Thanks to Ryan Reynolds’ Big Push

After nearly two decades and a surprising cameo, Marvel execs are reportedly ‘obsessed’ with Tatum’s take on Gambit, sparking hopes for a standalone film.

Nearly 20 years after Channing Tatum’s journey with Marvel began, the actor may finally get a solo film as Gambit, and he has Ryan Reynolds to thank for the renewed buzz.

Tatum’s portrayal of Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine garnered rave reactions, with Reynolds teasing that Marvel executives are “obsessed” with the performance, fueling hopes for a full-fledged Gambit project. Speaking on Entertainment Weekly’s Awardist podcast, Reynolds shared his excitement: “I honestly don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, but they’re totally fixated on him as Gambit. Sometimes, they just need to see the character in action for it to click.”

Reynolds can relate: his own Marvel journey took off after test footage of his Deadpool leaked in 2014, igniting fan enthusiasm that ultimately led to the franchise’s launch in 2016. Tatum’s recent cameo as Gambit—a kinetic-energy-wielding Cajun card thrower—has received similarly strong fan feedback.

Reflecting on Tatum’s embodiment of Gambit, Reynolds added, “Channing is so unique in how he plays that character. And he’s got this physical grace and ease that just sells it.” Originally cast as Gambit in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Tatum’s role was sidelined, and a scheduling conflict led Taylor Kitsch to take the role in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, where Reynolds also debuted as Deadpool.

For years, Tatum has been attached to a potential solo project, though it’s changed directors and lingered in development. His unexpected appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine delighted fans with cameos from Chris Evans as Human Torch, Wesley Snipes as Blade, Jennifer Garner as Elektra, and Dafne Keen as X-23.

In July, Tatum praised Reynolds for championing him and Gambit, adding, “I’ll probably owe him forever. I’m not sure I could ever do something that would match what this has meant to me.”