Casting The MCU's Gambit: 10 Actors Who Could Play Remy LeBeau In Live-Action (Other Than Channing Tatum)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe will eventually need to find an actor to play Gambit, but Channing Tatum might not be the best option. Once upon a time, Channing Tatum was promised to herald a solo Gambit movie for the Fox universe, with the project falling through following Disney’s acquisition of the X-Men. Tatum has finally gotten to play the beloved Cajun card-slinging mutant in a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, but going forward, he might not be Marvel Studios’ best choice for Remy LeBeau.

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There are a few reasons why the MCU might be better off looking for a different actor to play Gambit for any future X-Men projects. For one, Tatum’s Gambit has been memed into oblivion since he first hit theaters, meaning audiences would be far less likely to take him seriously after being a walking punchline in Deadpool & Wolverine. Not only that, but Channing Tatum’s classically handsome looks and built physique don’t exactly match up with the traditional image of Gambit, meaning another actor might be better physically, as well.

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10 Chace Crawford

Could get deep with Gambit’s comedic stylings

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While Channing Tatum’s incomprehensible Cajun slang might be too goofy to transfer 1-to-1 into a serious X-Men movie, that isn’t to say that the character is completely humorless. As much of a charmer as he is, Gambit is no stranger to wisecracks and jokes at the expense of others, which is where an actor with more comedic experience could be valuable. Enter Chace Crawford, and up-and-coming star best known for his role as the aquatic hero The Deep in Amazon’s The Boys.

Beyond granting him valuable superhero experience, The Deep shows of Crawford’s impeccable comedic timing, making him a tantalizing option for a new take on Gambit in the MCU. His lean, but toned physique would also be a great fit for the lithe and agile Remy, more used to dancing around his opponents with acrobatics than getting within slugging distance in a brawl. Between his looks and experience, Crawford could quietly be the perfect replacement for Channing Tatum’s Gambit.

9 Nick Bateman

Already convincingly played Gambit in a fan film

As powerful of a mutant though he may be, in truth, Remy LeBeau is a lover, not a fighter. In many X-Men stories, Gambit is defined by his rocky relationship with fellow superhero Rogue, whose life-absorbing touch makes for a soap opera-like complication in their will-they-won’t-they romance. Keeping this in mind, it might be precedent to find a Gambit actor who can truly make general audiences swoon while looking the part, and Nick Bateman might be just the ticket.

Though he has some acting credits in movies like Hobo With A Shotgun, the majority of his appearances are in romantic comedies like The Matchmaker’s Playbook. But more notable than this is the fact that Bateman has already very convincingly played Gambit once before in a little-known fan film called Gambit: Play For Keeps. If the brilliant fan-film is any indication, Bateman could combine his romantic appeal with his already impressive first draft of the character to make an unforgettable Gambit.

8 Brenton Thwaites

Makes a bold argument as a franchise-leader

Hitting many of the same points as Chace Crawford, but with arguably more blockbuster experience, is none other than the underappreciated Brenton Thwaites. The young actor has appeared in hefty releases dripping with star power, like Gods of Egypt and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Thwaites might not have had good luck when it comes to the critical success of his major movies, but he’s often easily the best thing about them.

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Most notably, Brenton Thwaites also played a superhero as Nightwing in the cast of DC’s Titans. This edgier take on Dick Grayson showed off Thwaites’ physicality, demonstrating some athleticism and acrobatics that would be incredibly valuable for a Gambit actor. With big-budget production experience that would go far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Brenton Thwaites might not be a household name, but could easily become one as Marvel Studios’ next Gambit.

7 Joel Kinnaman

Might excel at getting Gambit to be taken more seriously

After Channing Tatum flanderized the character in Deadpool & Wolverine, it might behoove the MCU to seek an edgier, more unorthodox choice for Gambit in an upcoming X-Men project. To that end, Joel Kinnaman might be the perfect choice for the trenchcoat-wearing gambler. No stranger to high-production-value action movies or the superhero genre, Kinnaman is well-known for his performances in the 2014 Robocop remake and James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.

Kinnaman’s skill at portraying bitter, determined characters could be just the palette cleanser audiences need out of Gambit after the character’s personality had been reduced to a novelty accent. His athletic frame and experience in fight scenes would also certainly come in handy in the inevitable fight scenes of a future MCU X-Men movie, too. Joel Kinnaman might not be an obvious casting choice for Gambit, but considering the character’s current reputation, that could be just what the MCU needs.

6 Jared Padalecki

Could finally join his fictional brother in the world of superheroes

Jared Padalecki is best known for his role as Sam Winchester in all 15 seasons of Supernatural. While his co-star Jensen Ackles has since broken into the superhero space as the voice of Batman in the Tomorrowverse movies and Soldier Boy in The Boys, Padalecki has yet to have the same golden opportunity. A chance as Gambit in the MCU could be the perfect place to finally get his foot in the door into the world of comic book movies.

In all honesty, Padalecki would make for an excellent Gambit. His years as a heartthrob on shows like Gilmore Girls prove he’d be able to turn heads as the dashing, dapper mutant, and his excellent range as shown off by dramas like Walker proves he has the acting chops to make the most of a casting. While Padalecki has been confirmed for a yet-to-be-revealed role on The Boys, his swave delivery and effortless charm wouldn’t be remiss as Gambit.

5 Dacre Montgomery

Might take Gambit’s charisma to a darker place

It’s worth remembering that Gambit doesn’t exactly have the cleanest past of the core X-Men members, using his powers and charm to navigate a dangerous life prior to his falling in with Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. In an effort to pay homage to this, Dacre Montgomery could be the perfect choice to represent Remy LeBeau in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Australian actor made a name for himself in Stranger Things as Billy Hargrove, a rough-and-tumble 80s bully with a knack for seducing older women.

Montgomery is able to pull off some wild 80s fashion statements in Stranger Things, hinting at an ability to absolutely devour Gambit’s ostentatious wardrobe. He’s also been a leading role in a superhero story before, as the Red Ranger in the woefully-underrated 2017 Power Rangers film. Finally, his ability to work with various accents in films like Elvis might make him capable of effortlessly re-creating Gambit’s iconic Cajun drawl.

4 Austin Butler

An industry darling who could certainly pull off the role

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Speaking of accents in Elvis hinting at an ability to pull off any accent, Austin Butler’s convincing voice as The King himself in the film might make him one of the strongest contenders for adapting to Cajun mannerisms. A staple of prestige cinema for some time, Austin Butler has been tearing through the 2020s with a slew of iconic roles, from Elvis to Masters of the Air to Dune: Part Two. The range he demonstrates throughout all of these characters would certainly imply that Gambit is well-within his grasp.

Certain roles of Butler’s each highlight a different aspect of Gambit he’d be able to nail. His time as a hotheaded vandal in The Bikeriders is not dissimilar to Gambit’s own past, and as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Dune: Part Two, he flexed some impressive fight scene muscles that would be sure to come in handy. That’s all not to mention Butler’s growing star power, something the MCU always at least considers when casting important characters.

3 Cameron Cowperthwaite

Deserves to be given a chance at stardom by the MCU

As fun as it is to speculate on big names adding themselves to Marvel Studios’ impressive list of credits, it’s important to remember that the MCU is just as likely to take chances on lesser-known actors. It’s easy to forget that Chris Hemswroth, Tom Hiddleston, and Tom Holland were all relative unknowns before their excellent performances in Marvel movies granted them stardom. Gambit could be the next major avenue for one of these come-ups, and Cameron Cowperwaite is one working actor deserving of such.

Cowperthwaite’s credits in supernatural shows like American Horror Story and Fallout could make it easy for him to adjust to the fantastical world of Marvel’s mutants. He also certainly has the look for Gambit, boyishly handsome yet scruffy around the edges. Always making the most out of the limited roles he’s given, Cameron Cowperthwaite deserves a shot at Marvel stardom via Gambit.

2 Taylor Kitsch

Could redeem himself as Gambit in the MCU

If there’s one thing Deadpool & Wolverine has proven, not to mention the MCU’s recent announcement of Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the series as Doctor Doom, it’s that Marvel Studios isn’t afraid to give actors another shot. The only actor to play Gambit in a major live-action release prior to Channing Tatum has been Taylor Kitsch, who briefly appeared as a young Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. While Kitsch’s performance in the film wasn’t exactly iconic, it’s difficult to say that he could be blamed for the film’s many faults.

With better direction and more time to shine, Taylor Kitsch could truly come into his own as a worthy Gambit actor. It’s true that Kitsch’s career has been mired in unfortunate flops like Battleship and even the infamous John Carter, but he always manages to turn in a commendable effort despite the ruinous production around him. With a competent director under the MCU’s umbrella, it’s easy to imagine Kitsch redeeming himself in the MCU much in the same way Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man did.

1 Robert Pattinson

Is almost too perfect for Marvel’s Gambit

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If there’s one big-name actor that easily checks all the boxes for Marvel’s Gambit, it’s none other than Robert Pattinson himself. It’s startling just how eerily perfect every aspect of the character Pattinson has already demonstrated an affinity for. First and foremost, as Batman in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, Pattinson proved he had a stomach for superhero action. But he also spent years as a romantic icon in movies like Remember Me and the Twilight series, something that Remy LeBeau almost needs to work.

His unique experience lends itself to the role even further. Pattinson has proven himself as a master of accent work, going from his native British to an all-American assertive whisper in The Batman all the way to the old-English perplexity of The Lighthouse‘s script. Finally, Pattinson more than has the face and build for the part, with sharp features and a 6’1″ frame evocative of Gambit’s comic-accurate tall stature. It’s no wonder that Pattinson has been frequently fancast as Gambit.