Channing Tatum made an incredible entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in Deadpool & Wolverine, but after recent comments, it's not so clear if he's returning to Avengers: Doomsday as Gambit or someone else. There is no denying that when Tatum made his debut as Gambit for the first time in 2024, after a decade of having been attached to the character, it was an incredible moment. And once the movie ended, it felt as though his MCU future was in dispute.

While Gambit has long been a fan-favorite character, appearing in various cartoons, comics, and even live-action films, the character has yet to have a fully fledged story with an actor who perfectly encapsulates the role. While Taylor Kitsch did a great job in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, his story was brief, and likewise, Gambit was more of a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine. But hopes for the characters' future soared through the roof with Tatum finally tackling the part, and potentially setting up for a future in the MCU.

Channing Tatum Is Confirmed To Appear In Avengers: Doomsday

Avengers: Doomsday Has Revealed An Incredible Lineup A Year In Advance

Recently, dozens of stars set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday were confirmed in a historic reveal from Marvel where they hosted a five-hour stream with not much more than a group of chairs with names on them. But one of the surprising standouts of the announcement was Channing Tatum. His name was listed just after several stars who appeared in the original X-Men trilogy, which resulted in many fans taking this as confirmation that Tatum would be officially ing the team as Gambit.

However, the MCU is a tricky beast that often misdirects the audience. Over the nearly 40 films featured in the MCU to date, the franchise has subverted expectations on several occasions, and despite the confirmation that Tatum will be back to play a role in the Avengers: Doomsday, it appears as though he is less certain of how that may look, and who exactly he is set to play.

Channing Tatum's Latest Avengers: Doomsday Comments Suggest He Could Be A Different Character

Gambit May Not Be The Same Character That We Recognize From Deadpool & Wolverine

No doubt, Tatum made a splash playing Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine, but at a recent event, Tatum was interviewed by Extra about his MCU return. While he is clearly due to have a part in the title, the actor has very little information about what that means, and appears somewhat confused about the entire thing. However, this is exactly the kind of operation and secretive work that Marvel Studios employs in order to keep the plots and details of their movies under wraps. Still, Tatum's comments raise concerns:

Personally, all I was guaranteed was a chair. They said that I have a chair, and I can at least watch the movie from the chair. You know, and it was just my name, it wasn't exactly Gambit. So, I work in the world of just like, of binary yes or no's, and I've only been guaranteed so far a chair to watch the movie in, so that's where I'm at.

While Tatum takes things a little far by suggesting the promise of a chair may just mean watching the movie, the fact is that his name was in that announcement for a reason. There is no doubt that Tatum will be back for Avengers: Doomsday. However, he does raise an interesting point about whether his character will be the same in the title. While it seems that Gambit survived until the end of Deadpool & Wolverine, and additional scenes released since the movie came out do more to expand on this, Tatum could be playing something a little different.

Even If Channing Tatum Is Still Gambit, He Doesn't Necessarily Have To Be The Same One From Deadpool & Wolverine

Channing Tatum Can Settle Into A New Or Familiar Role In Avengers: Doomsday

If the Multiverse Saga has taught audiences anything, it is the limitless potential that Marvel has imbued in their characters throughout this run to have variants. Loki meets dozens of his variants, with ages, species, genders, and many other aspects all changing drastically. Tom Holland's Spider-Man met two more mature Spider-Men in No Way Home, with each having a decisively different history. Deadpool met dozens of variants, and even Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark may prove to be a variant of Doctor Doom in the film.

Channing Tatum is likely to be brought back to play Gambit, but his uniform could change. His outfit and hairstyle could be altered. His accent may be drastically different. The reality is that in Avengers: Doomsday, there is no guarantee any of these actors are playing the exact same version of the hero they already portrayed. Things will likely be different, but whatever happens, it's exciting to see that Channing Tatum will be a part of it all in Avengers: Doomsday.

MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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