1
Credit: 20th Century StudiosThe truth is out as one screen star confirms his firing and subsequent exit from the Marvel superhero franchise.
For better or worse, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) has become one of the most talked-about entries in Fox’s long-running mutant franchise–not because it redefined Wolverine, but because of the ripple effects it created across the X-Men universe.
Released in 2009, the film was designed as a franchise springboard. Hugh Jackman returned as Logan in the first true solo outing for the character, joined by Liev Schreiber’s brutal Sabretooth, Ryan Reynolds’ heavily altered Deadpool, and a lineup of mutants meant to seed future spinoffs. The plan was ambitious, but the execution proved divisive almost immediately.
Financially, Gavin Hood’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine was a success, pulling in roughly $373 million worldwide against a sizable production budget. Critically, however, the response was far less forgiving.
Reviews targeted the film’s uneven tone, choppy editing, and controversial creative choices–particularly its handling of Deadpool–and it has since settled into a reputation as one of the weakest entries in the pre-MCU Marvel catalog. While Jackman’s commitment to the role was rarely questioned, the movie ultimately stalled Fox’s hopes for a wave of character-focused X-Men spinoffs.
One of those planned spinoffs centered on Gambit, the fan-favorite Cajun mutant whose live-action debut arrived in Origins via Taylor Kitsch. Even at the time, the character’s brief appearance felt more like a teaser than a fully realized introduction, and fans quickly began wondering what might have been.
That question resurfaced recently when Josh Holloway, best known for his role as Sawyer in ABC’s Lost from 2004-2010, revealed that he was originally cast as Gambit in the Wolverine movie before being abruptly let go. According to Holloway, he screen-tested with Hugh Jackman and was told he had landed the role, only to later receive a call explaining that the studio had decided to go with someone roughly ten years younger.
“Well, Gambit was one. As a matter of fact, I read with Hugh Jackman and got the part. They hugged me, said, ‘You’re it! I’ll see you on set,'” the Lost star told Collider at Fan Expo Portland. “By the end of that evening, the studio head had called and said, ‘We want someone 10 years younger.’ So they got Taylor Kitsch. Which, I wonder if he could come back? Who knows, but thank you. I learned the card tricks and everything.”
The irony, of course, is that Gambit’s on-screen journey was far from over, it was only just beginning.
Years later, Channing Tatum emerged as the most persistent champion of the character. Tatum spent nearly a decade attached to a standalone Gambit movie that cycled through multiple directors and creative visions. At various points, the project was described as a romantic, genre-blending take on the character, leaning into Gambit’s charm rather than traditional superhero spectacle.
Despite Tatum’s enthusiasm, the film never materialized and was ultimately scrapped following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
That cancellation didn’t mark the end of Tatum’s Gambit, though. After years of speculation, he finally made his debut as the character in Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine, the 2024 crossover that reunited Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds.
The film became a massive box office success and introduced Gambit to a much wider MCU-era audience, sparking renewed debate about how the character should sound, behave, and fit into Marvel’s evolving Multiverse.
Marvel Studios has since doubled down. Tatum’s Gambit is set to return in Avengers: Doomsday, officially confirmed last year, positioning the character alongside the MCU’s biggest players in one of Phase Six’s marquee events. It’s a remarkable turnaround for a character once stuck in development limbo.
Meanwhile, Gambit has also found renewed life in animation. X-Men ’97 brought the character back into the spotlight as part of Marvel’s revival of the beloved 1990s animated series. However, the show’s success was partially overshadowed by controversy surrounding former showrunner Beau DeMayo, whose departure amid misconduct allegations sparked uncertainty about the series’ long-term creative direction.
While the show has largely been praised, the behind-the-scenes turmoil has fueled concern about how future seasons will handle key characters and storylines now that leadership has shifted.
Looking back, Gambit’s cinematic history mirrors the broader struggles of the X-Men franchise itself–ambitious plans, creative misfires, long delays, and unexpected revivals. From Josh Holloway’s nearly forgotten casting, to Taylor Kitsch’s fleeting appearance, to Channing Tatum’s decade-long pursuit finally paying off, Gambit has endured one of the most winding journeys of any Marvel character.
With Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon and animated stories continuing to evolve, Gambit may finally be settling into a place of stability. Whether this latest era will fully satisfy longtime fans remains to be seen, but after everything the character has been through, simply being here feels like a victory.
How do you feel about losing Josh Holloway as Gambit in the Marvel movies? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!