Considering his widespread popularity and general importance in the comics, Gambit’s absence from Fox's X-Men movie timeline has only served to build anticipation for his next live-action appearance. With mutants set to officially arrive in the MCU in the near future, it would appear that Gambit’s entrance into the franchise is impending, and Marvel will need to cast the character just right to avoid further disappointment. With that in mind, here are 10 actors who could play Gambit in the MCU's X-Men reboot.

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10 Channing Tatum Is One Of The Longest-Running Fancasts For Gambit

Tatum's Gambit Would Pay Off Years Of Build-Up

Despite having been long ago tipped to play Gambit in a live-action solo movie, Channing Tatum has yet to appear as the mutant hero on-screen. The actor is perhaps the most popular and longest standing fan-cast for the role, having previously voiced his excitement at the potential opportunity to play the character. As such, Channing Tatum becoming the MCU’s Gambit would be a good way to pay off years of anticipation.

Should Tatum appear as Gambit in Marvel movies, the MCU would certainly gain points for fan service. However, the actor’s suitability is much more substantial, as he possesses the physical and comedic talents necessary for an action-heavy role in the MCU. Tatum’s ability to combine physicality with levity has been showcased in 21 Jump Street, The Lost City, and many more movies, proving that he still remains a solid potential choice to play Gambit in the MCU.

9 Tom Blyth Could Put An Interesting Spin On Gambit's Story

Blyth's Experience Would Likely Translate To A Different Gambit

Tom Blyth’s list of credits may be relatively short, but he’s already proved that he would make an interesting Gambit were he cast in the MCU. The English actor most notably played the lead role of Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, putting a sympathetic spin on The Hunger Games’ villain in the much-anticipated prequel. Blyth has also appeared in Billy the Kid as the titular outlaw.

Blyth’s relative obscurity compared to some other fancast selections makes him a good fit for the MCU, as the franchise has often cast lesser-known actors in major roles. However, his blockbuster experience in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes showed that there are many facets to his talents, and that he could bring a depth to the complex character that could translate well to the MCU. Though he’s not the obvious choice for the role, Blyth could be fascinating as the MCU’s Gambit.

8 Chace Crawford Has Superhero Experience

Crawford's Talent Would Transfer Well To The MCU

Another popular fancast for the role of Gambit is Chace Crawford. Crawford’s most prominent recent role is that of The Deep in The Boys, the aquatic member of the superhero team The Seven with an unorthodox fascination with sea creatures. Crawford has a varied filmography, having proved the versatile nature of his acting ability over a period of many years.

Crawford would be a good fit for the MCU, not least because he would certainly look the part as Gambit. His role in The Boys means he would be no stranger to playing a superhero in live-action, but the show’s satirical tone would translate well to the MCU’s somewhat light-hearted approach to its stories and characters. With a combination of the right looks and the right experience, Chace Crawford would make a good Gambit for the MCU.

7 Joel Kinnaman Is No Stranger To Shared Universe Franchises

Kinnaman Would Be A Fascinatingly Unorthodox Casting

Considering he has appeared in multiple movies in the DCEU, Joel Kinnaman is no stranger to shared movie universes. Having played Rick Flag in 2016’s Suicide Squad and its sequel, 2021’s The Suicide Squad, Kinnaman is another actor with a respectable amount of comparable experience. However, there are multiple aspects of Kinnaman’s abilities that make him a credible choice for the role of Gambit, even if his casting would seem a little unorthodox.

Kinnaman has proven his talent at playing characters with an edge, and also that he’s capable of being simultaneously playful and dangerous. This would translate well to the charming but powerful Gambit, particularly as Kinnaman could also potentially look the part with his athletic frame. Joel Kinnaman may not be the obvious choice to play Gambit in the MCU, but that’s part of what makes his potential casting seem compelling.

6 Ian Somerhalder Could Capture Gambit's Brooding Aspect

Somerhalder's Previous Credits Outline His Potential X-Men Role

Under the right conditions, Ian Somerhalder would be a sound choice to play Gambit in the MCU’s X-Men. Somerhalder is best known for his long-running leading role on The Vampire Diaries as vampire Damon Salvatore. He rose to prominence as Boone Carlyle on Lost, and has since enjoyed a prolific career on the small screen. Somerhalder is best known for his dramatic chops, as well as his ability to bring romantic storylines to life.

Though these talents may not immediately appear to gel with the MCU’s established tone, there is a way in which Somerhalder would be the perfect Gambit. Should the franchise seek to make its X-Men story a little darker and more dramatic, Somerhalder would be an excellent choice to play the complex and brooding Gambit. Somerhalder’s experience would translate specifically to a certain type of character, but should Marvel opt to go the darker route he’d be a good choice for the role.

5 Brenton Thwaites Could Bring Impressive Physicality To Gambit

Thwaites Has Uniquely Qualifying Experience

Brenton Thwaites is already often associated with a superhero role, having brought Nightwing to life in live-action as the leader of ’ cast of DC characters. Having also appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Gods of Egypt, Thwaites is no stranger to blockbuster productions, and would fit in well with the MCU. However, it’s the specifics of Thwaites’ experience that best qualify him to play Gambit.

To see what Thwaites could bring to the role, audiences need look no further than Titans. He possesses the physical build and athleticism to convincingly play Gambit, and has direct experience in starring as fan-favorite characters who have long been neglected in live-action adaptations. Considering he also looks a little like Marvel Comics’ Remy LeBeau, there are a wealth of reasons that Brenton Thwaites would be an excellent choice for the MCU’s Gambit.

4 Travis Fimmel Would Make An Interesting Remy LeBeau

Fimmel's Gambit Could Be Very Different

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Best known for his leading role in Vikings as Ragnar Lothbrok, Travis Fimmel is another unorthodox contender for the role of Gambit. Fimmel’s run playing the legendary Viking hero gave him the opportunity to showcase a number of skills, many of which would translate directly to the potential role of Gambit. Though Fimmel would undoubtedly have to play a slightly older version of the hero, there are many good arguments for his casting.

Fimmel’s intensity and action credentials speak for themselves, and would serve him well should he be cast as one of the MCU’s X-Men. What’s more, his time on Vikings showed that he is capable of playing layered roles, combining complex characterization with more light-hearted moments and gritty action. All of those are skills that the MCU is sorely in need of, and things that could help make the franchise’s Gambit one of the most popular mutants in the live-action franchise.

3 Dacre Montgomery Could Communicate Gambit's Dark Charisma

Montgomery's Charm And Popularity Would Serve The MCU

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Despite only having played a handful of prominent roles, Dacre Montgomery is undoubtedly a global star. Having appeared as Billy Hargrove in Netflix’s Stranger Things, Montgomery’s celebrity hit an all-time high with the success of both the show and his character. As well as possessing the crucial talent of being able to pull off Remy LeBeau-esque hairstyles, there are many other aspects of Dacre Montgomery’s skillset that make him a good choice for Gambit.

As Stranger Things’ Billy, Montgomery proved himself capable of playing sympathetic villains and to make even a bad person seem incredibly compelling. As Gambit, Montgomery’s effortless cool and dark charisma would be put to perfect use, translating perfectly to the role of the X-Men’s wild card. Considering his role on Stranger Things has come to an end, Dacre Montgomery may well be available to make a brilliant Gambit in the MCU.

2 Matt Bomer Would Make A Perfect Gambit

Bomer Has The Qualities The MCU's Gambit Will Require

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Despite having already enjoyed a successful career, Matt Bomer isn't the most well-known name in Hollywood. This may actually help his chances at being cast as Gambit, as Marvel often turns to underrated and less inherently well-known actors to play major roles. However, with so many credits to his name, Matt Bomer is a familiar face to many, bringing a level of respectability to his potential casting.

This alone isn’t why Bomer would be good as Gambit, though. The actor has shown in multiple roles that he can play charming heroes, roguish figures, and dark but compelling characters, and Gambit ultimately requires a combination of those skills. Bomer looks appropriately chiseled and not dissimilar to Gambit’s comic book likeness, but it’s largely his proven on-screen skills that make him a good choice for the role. As such, Matt Bomer is one of the best potential castings for the MCU’s Gambit.

1 Austin Butler Could Be Everything The MCU's Gambit Needs

Butler Is A Logical Choice For Gambit

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There are few stars who have enjoyed such a swift and monumental rise to success as Austin Butler, who would be the ideal casting for the MCU’s Gambit. Butler’s titular role in the biopic Elvis earned him significant critical praise, while his subsequent role as the villainous Feyd-Rautha in Dune Part Two showcased an entirely different set of skills at Butler’s disposal. The actor also possesses a number of personal traits that make him a perfect fit for the character.

Butler’s own Southern charm and talent for accents would make him an incredible choice for Gambit. What’s more, he has proven his action capabilities, and is one of Hollywood’s fast-rising stars, making his timely inclusion in the MCU a win-win situation. Austin Butler possesses a diverse set of talents and many of the physical or character traits that would simply make him the perfect Gambit for the MCU’s X-Men.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Created by

Kevin Feige

First Film

Iron Man

Films

Avengers: Secret Wars

TV Shows

Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Vision Quest

First TV Show

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Cast

Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Simu Liu, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, Ma Dong-seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Jonathan Majors

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount's Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.

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Marvel Movies	Release Date
Deadpool & Wolverine	July 26, 2024
Captain America: Brave New World	February 14, 2025
Thunderbolts*	May 2, 2025
Fantastic Four	July 25, 2025
Blade	November 7, 2025
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty	May 1, 2026
Avengers: Secret Wars	May 7, 2027