Deadpool & Wolverine was a monumental success, shattering box office records and earning praise from critics and fans alike. The film became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, celebrated for its meta-narrative that not only brought back Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine but also paid tribute to other beloved characters from non-MCU Marvel films, such as Elektra (Jennifer Garner) and X-23 (Dafne Keen). One of the most anticipated moments was the long-awaited debut of Channing Tatum as Gambit, a role he had been attached to for years before the project was shelved following the Disney-Fox merger. Despite the overwhelmingly positive reaction to his Gambit, Tatum has a surprisingly modest view of his contribution to the film’s massive success.
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While promoting his new film Roofman on the popular interview show Hot Ones, Tatum spoke candidly about his career, at one point calling his 2010 romance Dear John “generic”. When the conversation turned to his celebrated appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tatum confessed that he feels disconnected from the blockbuster. “I was in it for two seconds,” Tatum said. “So I don’t feel like a part of that.”
Despite Tatum’s humble assessment, his portrayal of Gambit was integral to Deadpool & Wolverine. In fact, for many fans, his appearance was the fulfillment of a long-held casting dream. In addition, the enthusiasm for his version of the character was so strong that Marvel Studios has already confirmed his return for the upcoming event film, Avengers: Doomsday. This move positions him as a key figure in the multiversal saga alongside other classic X-Men actors from the Fox era who are also slated to appear.
Channing Tatum Comments on Hollywood Makes Us Hopeful for Avengers: Doomsday
During his Hot Ones interview, Channing Tatum offered a broader commentary on the state of the film industry, expressing concerns about the impact of streaming services on creative projects. He described a challenging environment where financial incentives sometimes overshadow the pursuit of quality storytelling.
“I think, now, when you get asked to do a movie, or you’re trying to get a movie made, it’s a very confused pipeline of possibilities, and it really feels like, at times, that you’re incentivized to make bad things to get paid, rather than make something really, really good, for the f-cking people that actually get to see these things and people that I want to see these movies, the person that I was when I was a kid,” Tatum explained. “And I want good movies. I’m like, ‘Man, I want to give my money to the good movies.’ It’s such an upside-down moment, but I do believe that the disruption is going to lead to something good. I do believe that. I do believe the streamers came in for a reason, and it had to change, it had to morph.”
The fact that Tatum is so vocal about the need for high-quality films while fresh off the production of Avengers: Doomsday is a promising sign for fans. His hopefulness suggests that his experience on the massive Marvel project was a positive one and that the film itself may be an example of the industry moving in the right direction.
Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026.
What are you most excited to see in Gambit’s return in Avengers: Doomsday? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
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