X-Men Origins: Wolverine star Taylor Kitsch addresses being replaced by Channing Tatum in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Kitsch played Gambit, a prisoner of William Stryker on Three Mile Island, who helped Wolverine locate it and later saved him from a falling cooling tower. Tatum was considered for the role in the movie, but due to scheduling conflicts, the star had to drop out.

In ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, Tatum made a cameo appearance as Gambit. He’s also scheduled to play a part in Avengers: Doomsday, in which he is expected to reprise the Cajun superhero.

In an interview with ScreenRant about Prime Video’s The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, set to premiere on August 27, Kitsch, who reprises his role as Ben Edward, talked briefly about being replaced by Tatum as Gambit in the MCU. The star admitted that he hasn’t seen Tatum’s version and clarified that “Gambit wasn’t in the cards” for him. Read his comment below:

ScreenRant: My introduction to your work came in 2009 when a film called X-Men Origins: Wolverine came out. You were a killer Gambit back in the day. Has anyone asked you about Channing’s version? Did you see it?

Taylor Kitsch: I have not.

ScreenRant: Is that a soft subject? Should I not be bringing this up?

Taylor Kitsch: No, no, not at all, man. That’s the business, man. It’s all good. It’s like I love the path I’m on and the actor I’ve become and the stories I’m engaging in. No pun intended, here’s a quote for you, but Gambit wasn’t in the cards for me, man.

When asked whether Marvel is in the rearview, Kitsch left the window open while teasing his upcoming project,11 Days in Hell, based on a true story. He admitted that he loves where he is and has “no regrets,” and sometimes, it’s not up to him who gets the part. Read his comment below:

Never say never, but I don’t know, man. I’ve got this book right here, 11 Days in Hell. That’s my next project. It’s something I can’t wait to service. It’s a true story about an 11-day negotiation in 1974 in Huntsville Prison. And that scares the sнιт out of me. I’m playing the director of corrections. Peter Landesman is directing and it’s a true story and I pride myself on playing very different people and characters and stories.

And I think this is my eighth guy that I’m playing that has lived literally. So that’s always incredibly flattering when you get those calls. So I don’t know. I love where I’m at, man, so I have no regrets with it. It just wasn’t, sometimes it’s not in my power to say who’s who or who gets to play what. So I can only focus on the people that want to work with me and collaborate with me.

What This Means For Taylor Kitsch And Gambit

It’s the first time that Kitsch has commented on the Gambit recasting since the surprise reveal in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine. His comment suggests he won’t have much involvement with the MCU, though he doesn’t shut down the idea of reprising the role in the future.

Meanwhile, the actor already has a project lined up after The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, in which he stars alongside Chris Pratt, Luke Hemsworth, Tom Hopper, and Rona-Lee Shimon. After X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the star has been involved in many projects, including Disney’s John Carter, Battleship, and Savages.

He also appeared in Lone Survivor, American ᴀssᴀssin, and 21 Bridges. On the television side and aside from The Terminal List, he starred in True Detective season 2 and the miniseries Waco.

Our Take On Taylor Kitsch Vs. Channing Tatum As Gambit

Even though Tatum didn’t end up playing the role in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, he advocated for a Gambit solo movie and expressed his pᴀssion for the role. ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine was the second chance that rarely came for Tatum to play the character.

Kitsch, on the other hand, has had a full career since the 2009 movie. His role has diverged far from his time in the X-Men movie. While some audiences believe that Kitsch’s portrayal is more faithful to the character in the comics, others also thought Gambit’s role was a bit strange in the movie. Tatum’s version is also considered a strong interpretation, especially with the star’s commitment and embodiment of the character’s personality.