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Josh Holloway's Gambit Casting Revealed Amid Film Turmoil

1/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

Josh Holloway, the actor, was originally cast as Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine but was replaced due to age after testing with Hugh Jackman and initial approval.
Taylor Kitsch ultimately played Gambit, a choice that was poorly received and scored 37% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Holloway's near-casting underscores Gambit's troubled film history, as the character is played by Channing Tatum in Deadpool & Wolverine and set to return in Avengers: Doomsday.

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Story summary

Josh Holloway, the actor, was originally cast as Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine but was replaced due to age after testing with Hugh Jackman and initial approval.
Taylor Kitsch ultimately played Gambit, a choice that was poorly received and scored 37% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Holloway's near-casting underscores Gambit's troubled film history, as the character is played by Channing Tatum in Deadpool & Wolverine and set to return in Avengers: Doomsday.