Channing Tatum's one-liner as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine helped him convince a lot of people that he was right for the part all along. While X-Men '97 director Emi/Emmett Yonemura had a couple of notes on his costume, he admits they swooned at Tatum's version of the Cajun mutant.
Channing Tatum's Gambit Debut Left X-Men '97 Director in Awe Thanks To This One Line
Channing Tatum's Marvel debut had been a long time coming, considering that he was initially considered as the live-action Gambit. If he hadn't auditioned to play the Cajun, he wouldn't have had the chance in Deadpool & Wolverine.
According to Yonemura, they couldn't see why Tatum would be the best fit to play the Cajun, saying, "When they had first even just teased his name years ago, I was like, 'He's not the Cajun.'"
However, the one thing that changed Yonemura's mind happened when he appeared on screen.
Despite the issues with how his face would fit in Gambit's mask, he explained, "When he said, 'Boom' really quietly, I swooned. I was like, 'Okay, he's my Gambit now. He convinced me this guy is great. And you know what? I would watch this movie now."
Previously, Channing Tatum shared that he wouldn't have made it in the MCU if it hadn't been for Ryan Reynolds' help.
"I thought I had lost Gambit forever," Tatum said, "But [Ryan] fought for me and Gambit. I will owe him probably forever. 'Cause I'm not sure how I could ever do something that would be equal to what this has meant to me."
In his short time playing the Cajun on the big screens, Tatum remains hopeful that he will be able to keep portraying him in a potential Gambit solo movie someday.
"From your mouth to God's ears. Write it into existence, my friend. Please," Tatum cheered, "I've been saying I want it for the last 10 years. It's in [Disney CEO] Bob Iger and Kevin Feige's hands. I pray to God."
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