2024 may not have been the year Marvel Studios had planned it to be a couple of years ago but it was exactly the year it needed to be. Once set to see four feature films, including Fantastic Four, and four live-action streaming series, including Daredevil: Born Again, roll out over the course of the year, the planned 2024 slate took a major hit as Bob Iger forced Kevin Feige and the Marvel Parliament to take a moment to sit in the corner and think about what they had done. As a result, the live-action slate was pared down to 2 series and 1 film; however, the studio found incredible success in its reduced release schedule with a return to form at the box office and arguably its most complete streaming series to date. As they look in the rearview mirror on what did and did not work in 2024, the studio will see more good than bad for the first time in a few years.
Marvel Studios’ one and only 2024 theatrical release, Deadpool & Wolverine, looked to be a surefire hit and while it was certainly not universally loved by critics, the bloody buddy comedy put butts in seats and reminded most fans of how to have a good time at a Marvel Studios movie. While those butts were in those seats, the unspoiled in the audience were treated to some incredible surprises in the film as non-Marvel Studios OGs such as Wesley Snipes‘ Blade, Jennifer Garner‘s Elektra and Chris Evans‘ Johnny Storm popped up for more-than-just-a-cameo appearances. As surprising as it was to see those actors reprise those roles, Channing Tatum‘s Gambit stole the show as audiences fell in love with the actor’s long-awaited debut as the Cajun. It didn’t take long for fans to begin to call for more of Tatum‘s mumbly mutie. And with a little post-credit magic here and a deleted scene there, more of Tatum as Gambit in the MCU seemed to possibly be in the cards. Now it seems as though it might be more likely than anyone might have ever believed.
In a recent interview with EW, Deadpool & Wolverine star Ryan Reynolds claimed that the decision makers at Marvel Studios are “obsessed” with Tatum as Gambit while drawing a comparison to his own struggle to get Deadpool to the big screen.
“I honestly don’t know what goes on behind closed doors in the bookkeeping sessions at Marvel, but I do know that they’re obsessed with him in that role,” said Reynolds. “It’s kind of like the same situation I went through. Once you show that it works well, that’s really what they need. Sometimes they just need to see it in action.” Reynolds’s passion for Deadpool kept hope alive for years that a reasonable version of the character to finally make it to the big screen and paid off with two successful Fox films and a major win at the box office for Marvel Studios. As referenced in his comments, Tatum had to endure a similar process after his long-gestating Gambit solo film was cancelled when Disney merged with Fox.
And Channing is so singular in how he plays that character but also he’s so beautiful physically, the way he moves and the way he can pick up steps.
Ryan Reynolds on Channing Tatum as Gambit
Obviously Tatum’s future as Gambit is not for Reynolds to decide but with the buzz his performance in Deadpool & Wolverine created and Marvel Studios moving toward their own mutant era, it’s hard to imagine fans won’t get the chance to see Tatum make even more of a name for himself as the beloved X-Man.
Source: EW via Variety
