Channing Tatum explains that the Russo Brothers want both drama and laughs for 'Avengers: Doomsday'

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Channing Tatum explains that the Russo Brothers "want to keep the drama and keep it tight" along with the funny for 'Avengers: Doomsday'

By Sophia Soto | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 11:00 AM ET

One of the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcements that fans were most excited about was Channing Tatum's Gambit, who we finally got to see in 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine.

While the actor is currently sidelined due to an injury he sustained while filming, he did mention to Variety, "We had tons more shooting," which would feature a "big fight" with Robert Downey Jr. as the villain, Doctor Doom.

"The universe just saved us," the actor explained, referring to how the X-Men are officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Disney now that the company has acquired Fox. "We would have failed so hard."

When it came to joining the franchise, he said his "singular focus was Gambit," adding, "He likes women, he smokes, he drinks. He’s not just a save-the-world kind of guy — we need those, but we need contrast."

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As for what audiences can expect from the accent, he confirmed, "I’m not gonna go full Cajun," noting that directors Anthony and Joe Russo "want things to be funny, but they don’t want to go full Deadpool. They want to keep the drama and keep it tight. When Gambit gets serious — when he drops the Mardi Gras mask — things do matter."

The rest of the cast currently includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Tenoch Huerta Mejia, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, Lewis Pullman, Danny Ramirez, David Harbour, Winston Duke, Hannah John-Kamen, Alan Cumming, Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, and Rebecca Romijn.

Avengers: Doomsday will be released in theaters on December 18, 2026.

Sophia Soto

Sophia Soto is a writer and interviewer with a passion for all things entertainment. She is a Senior Reporter at The Nerds of Color and contributes to Yardbarker, Screensphere, Den of Geek, What to Watch, Nerdtropolis, and Temple of Geek. You can see her past work on Remezcla, Young Hollywood, Looper, Paste Magazine, Primetimer, Soundsphere, and Starry Constellation Magazine

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