Summary
Channing Tatum’s Gambit being confirmed as part ofAvengers: Doomsdaywas one of the most significant talking points from Marvel Studios' lengthy cast announcement. He was an unexpected name given that he’s never truly been part of the X-Men franchise until now, with his most notable appearance coming inDeadpool & Wolverine. He showcased a lot of potential as a character in that movie, but that doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to work inAvengers: Doomsday.
His charismatic personality and unusual powers make him an interesting addition to the film, and he will certainly provide something different from the rest of theAvengers: Doomsdaycast. However, there’s a risk that Gambit might not feel out of place in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, which Marvel must navigate.
Channing Tatum’s Gambit Thrived In Deadpool & Wolverine
He Finally Showcased What His Vision Of Gambit Looks Like
Audiences hadwanted to see Tatum portray Gambit, withthe actor extremely passionate about the character, having been trying to play him since 2006.That’s one of the reasons his portrayal ended up being so much fun inDeadpool & Wolverine. He was able to play Gambit in the eccentric manner that people had been hoping for, while his fighting skills were given time to shine as well. Tatum brought an over-the-top performance, which worked perfectly in that movie because Deadpool’s character is highly eccentric. Therefore, he managed to fit in perfectly. He was confident and had lots of belief in how he carried himself, which made him enjoyable in that particular film.
The idea of him now getting the chance to mix it up on the big screen with not just the stars of 20th Century Fox’s X-Men butalso the other MCU charactersis an exciting situation on paper. He’s a beloved character who has been vastly underrated and underused in Marvel movies up until this point, and that’s why bringing him in will provide a level of freshness. It’s a gamble, given that he’s not at the same level or star power as other Marvel characters, but it will certainly be interesting to witness.
Gambit Might Tonally Clash With The Rest Of The X-Men
Their Personalities Will Be Very Different
Gambit was anentertaining part ofDeadpool & Wolverine, adding a lot to the quality of the movie. However, he was extremely comedic, and that might not be to everyone’s taste. Whether it was his exaggerated accent or the facial mannerisms that he pulled, Gambit was constantly entertaining audiences. That worked well because the tone of the movie was funny. The film was full of fourth-wall-breaking moments, rude comments, and jokes that poked fun at Marvel itself, which is something Gambit was involved in. However, it’s hard to see how that type of personality is going to mesh within anAvengers-level movie.
All Marvel films have elements of comedy within them, as that’s something that people have come to expect, regardless of how high the stakes are. However,Avengers: Doomsdayis obviously going to havea more serious tone thanDeadpool & Wolverine, as the stakes are expected to be higher. There will be a greater threat level, while there will be far more characters for Gambit to interact with, and the personality Tatum has given the role won’t mesh with them all. Having a few moments of tension can be entertaining, as that has always existed within the other Avengers movies. But the drastic shift in tone runs the risk of him becoming annoying or feeling out of place within the film.
Gambit Doesn’t Have The Same History As The Other X-Men
This Might Be Hard To Explain In Avengers: Doomsday
The other main reason why Gambit might not work inAvengers: Doomsdayis that he doesn’t come from the same moviesas the other X-Men charactersare from.While the likes of Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, and Kelsey Grammer were all in films together, Tatum’s version of Gambit doesn’t share that experience. This means that the audiences don’t have the same level of connection to his character, nor do the other X-Men characters. It means Marvel must explain why he is joining forces with them, but it will also stop the story from being as seamless as people want it to be. It’s something that risks taking people out of the film because rather than the X-Men all just showing up seamlessly, Gambit’s inclusion will require more work.
Marvel has created a difficult situation regarding continuity. Even though that’s a mess right now, given the multiverse, when it comes to thearrival of the X-Men, it would have been nice to have had a level of uniformity about them. The fact that Gambit doesn’t necessarily fit into the group and will bring a very different tone to the likes of Cyclops might end up being problematic withinAvengers: Doomsday, proving to do more damage than good.
