Channing Tatum has finally claimed his place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his debut as Gambit in “Deadpool and Wolverine.” But long before stepping into that iconic role, Tatum had once tried to enter the superhero world as Thor—a dream that slipped through his fingers years ago.

In his latest Variety cover story, Tatum reflected on his failed audition for Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film. “I didn’t really want to be Thor,” he confessed. “But I wanted to audition in front of Kenneth Branagh.”

The audition was a defining, albeit painful, moment in his career. Tatum recalled: “After I did one take, [Branagh] said, ‘You’re not allowed to move. Put your hands on this chair.’ And I froze. He nailed my crutch. I spent the next five years really trying to learn stillness.” The experience was humbling, but it became a quiet turning point in his journey.

Though Chris Hemsworth ultimately became the God of Thunder, Tatum found his heart belonged to another hero—Gambit. He pursued the role with unwavering passion, developing a Gambit movie under 20th Century Fox’s “X-Men” universe. Yet, the project was plagued with delays and reshuffles. It was once slated for a October 2016 release, and in November 2017, Lizzie Caplan joined as the female lead. Despite the momentum, the film never saw the light of day, collapsing after Disney’s acquisition of Fox.

By 2022, Tatum admitted to Variety that he had been left “traumatized” by the loss of the project. “I shut off my Marvel machine,” he said. “I haven’t been able to see any of the movies. I loved that character. It was just too sad. It was like losing a friend because I was so ready to play him.”

But fate had other plans. Last year’s Marvel blockbuster “Deadpool and Wolverine” brought a long-awaited gift—Tatum finally stepped into the role of Gambit. Overwhelmed with emotion, he took to social media to share his joy: “I thought I had lost Gambit forever. But [Reynolds] fought for me and Gambit. I will owe him probably forever. I’m not sure how I could ever repay what this has meant to me. I love ya buddy. … I’m so grateful to be in this movie. It’s a masterpiece in my opinion. And just pure bad ass joy. I was literally screaming in the theater.”

Now, in a moment rich with irony and destiny, Tatum’s Gambit and Hemsworth’s Thor are set to join forces in the upcoming Marvel epic “Avengers: Doomsday,” scheduled for release on December 18, 2026—a cinematic reunion of paths once diverged, now beautifully entwined.