Ryan Reynolds says Marvel is 'obsessed' with Channing Tatum's Gambit after “Deadpool & Wolverine”

The actor hopes this year's Marvel film can serve as a proof of concept for a major Gambit return.

It's unclear what the future holds for Channing Tatum's Gambit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after his triumphant debut in Deadpool & Wolverine, but the film's actor, writer, and executive producer Ryan Reynolds says Marvel is "obsessed" with this performance. Some might say that's a good sign.

"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," Reynolds says of Tatum's card-slinging Cajun mutant on Entertainment Weekly's Awardist podcast. "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 is referring to that test footage of his Deadpool that leaked in 2014 and proved to the studio that there was enough hype to move forward with a movie. Earlier this year, Reynolds admitted he "might have provided an assist" in that leak. In a similar way, he hopes Deadpool & Wolverine can be a proof of concept to Marvel to bring back Tatum as Gambit.

"And Channing is so singular in how he plays that character," Reynolds continues, "but also he's so beautiful physically, the way he moves and the way he can pick up steps."

Prior to Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox, the studio that originally owned the movie rights to such Marvel heroes as the X-Men, Blade, and Daredevil, Tatum was set to headline his own Gambit movie, portraying the fan-favorite member of the X team with the power to turn potential energy into kinetic energy. In other words, giving anything he touches an explosive charge, most often using a deck of playing cards and a staff as his signature offensive weapons.

The film completely shuttered development once Disney absorbed Fox into its roster, but Reynolds and director Shawn Levy were able to let Tatum realize his dream of playing the character in Deadpool & Wolverine, which is also an ode to the Fox era of Marvel movies. The team released a not-quite-deleted scene online to show that Gambit survives in the end. (The scene appeared on a small screen in the background of a particular scene, but it mostly went unnoticed until Reynolds & co. released it in full online.)

However, whether or not another go is in the cards for Tatum isn't yet known. "I hope so," Reynolds remarks.

Listen to EW's full Awardist podcast episode with Reynolds, Levy, and Hugh Jackman as they discuss Deadpool & Wolverine, including the time they tried to get Nicolas Cage to return as Ghost Rider.