Fan-Favorite Lost Actor Was Cast as Gambit Before Channing Tatum

by

Before Channing Tatum played Gambit, Josh Holloway – known for his role in Lost – was originally considered for the part. The journey to cast the popular X-Men character has had several setbacks, and Holloway was a strong contender at one point.

Josh Holloway almost played Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Actor Dean Holloway shared the story of how he almost became an X-Men cast member. At a Fan Expo Portland panel hosted by Collider’s Maggie Lovitt, Holloway explained that he auditioned for a role and even secured it after a successful screen test with Hugh Jackman.

I was so excited when I booked the role in ‘Gambit’! I actually read with Hugh Jackman and they told me I got the part – it was amazing! They were hugging me and saying I’d see them on set. But then, later that same day, the studio called and said they wanted someone ten years younger, so they went with Taylor Kitsch instead. I always wonder if maybe Taylor could revisit the role someday. Still, I’m grateful for the experience – I even learned all the card tricks!

Taylor Kitsch, known for his role in Friday Night Lights, played Gambit in the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. However, the movie received mostly negative reviews (with a 37% score on Rotten Tomatoes), and Kitsch’s portrayal of Gambit wasn’t well-received by fans. As a result, the character wasn’t featured in any films for over ten years, until Channing Tatum took on the role in the 2024 film Deadpool & Wolverine.

Since a close call a while back, Holloway has been consistently working. He recently led the HBO Max crime thriller Duster, working again with J.J. Abrams, and had a role in the third season of Yellowstone. He’s also found success in the genre space with Colony and made a fun appearance on Peacock’s The Paper. His next project is a starring role in One Second After.

Read More

2026-01-20 07:16