Summary
Deadpool & Wolverine’sstandout performance was one that fans weren’t expecting at all, but the character almost starred in their own solo film, and now someone closely related to the project comments on the scrapped project and how it would’ve been unique.
There was a lot going on with the Marvel Cinematic Universe’sDeadpool & Wolverine,as the film had a multiverse-spanning plot and more than 40 notable cameos from other Marvel characters, variants and more. Even with all those interesting characters and over the top scenes, one undeniable standout from the film was Channing Tatum’s Gambit, whose over the top dedication to the character’s iconic mannerisms and Cajun accent led to several rapidfire comedic moments in the already stacked action comedy. Many moviegoers were quick to express interest in seeing more of Tatum’s mutant character without knowing that Tatum had already tried unsuccessfully to get a Gambit movie made, andsubsequently avoided MCU projects due to that disappointment.
Unfortunately for all involved and the fans,the Long History Of The UnproducedGambitMoviewould come to a dead end when Disney acquired Fox and made the decision to completely relaunch the X-Men, scrapping everything in development as a result. Speaking toBusiness Insiderabout the scrapped project, Hollywood star Lizzy Caplan, who was attached to the project at the tail end of 2017, expressed disbelief that the decision was made and opined about the project’s unique approach. “It was a really cool idea. It’s kind of odd that it got scrapped. Those movies don’t seem to ever get scrapped, but it did.” Caplan reflected.
“We got down the road, we were gonna shoot it,” she continued. “I think there was a start date. I had had meetings with Channing, and there were a couple different… we had a director, then we didn’t, but I had multiple meetings with Channing and the other producers. They wanted to do, like, a ’30s kind of screwball romantic comedy set in that world, which would have been really fun.”
Caplan was brought onto the project as the film’s female lead, so she’s certainly an authority on what the plan was for the film’s vibe and it sounds great. While fans might not be familiar with 1930s screwball rom-coms, anyone that sawDaredevil & Wolverinewould certainly be willing to hear Tatum out on giving him the lead role in aGambitfilm. His antics in character, some of which were likely cut from the final footage, were so humorous that hisDeadpool & Wolverineco-star demanded Tatum cease and desist when she was being filmed, as by her own admission she couldn’t keep a straight face while Tatum was speaking or playing the part, let along keep up the stoic facade that her scenes required.
While some fans would like Ryan Reynolds to launch a full-scaleGambitmovie movement over at Marvel Studios, there’s a strong case to be made thatGambit shouldn’t return to the MCU until the X-Men get their own movie. In much the same way John Krasinski’s Mr. Fantastic was a one-and-done appearance before the MCU announced theFantastic Four: First Stepsmovie, the characters inDeadpool & Wolverineshouldn’t be given spin-offs until the studio has solid plans to give them a place in the franchise. This could be a different version with different casting, like Mr. Fantastic and Blade have already borne out to be, but fans can keep their fingers crossed that Gambit gets the nod if and when the time comes for the MCU to make a Gambit.
Deadpool & Wolverineis available to stream on Disney+.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine marks Ryan Reynolds’s take on the Merc with a Mouth’s entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, along with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Together, the two embark on a universe-hopping, R-rated adventure that’s sure to change the MCU forever.
