Though the X-Men were not mentioned in Kevin Feige's breakdown of the MCU's Phase 4, we all know they are planned for the future. It might still be a while before we see our favorite mutants back on the big screen, that shouldn't stop us from speculating about the casting of these characters.
Gambit is a particular favorite that fans have been wanting to see get a proper big-screen treatment. With various Gambit projects starting and stopping over the years, several actors have been attached, but there are also plenty of interesting choices we'd like to see considered. Take a look at the rumored and desired actors who could play Gambit.
10 Rumored: Taylor Kitsch
To date, Taylor Kitsch is the only actor to play Gambit in a live-action film. Unfortunately for the actor and the character, that film with X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Generally looked at as the worst X-Men films, the film wasted the inclusion of Gambit in its messy story.
Kitsch was long-rumored to reprise his role in the X-Men universe but nothing ever came of it. Since then he has shown more talent as an actor with interesting roles. Though he has the potential to give us a good version of Gambit, it seems unlikely now.
9 Want: Matthew Bomer
Matt Bomer is a solid actor who is gradually building a very impressive resume of interesting roles. He has starred in a variety of television projects, including the recent Doom Patrol series. he also has some great film roles under his belt, including Magic Mike and The Nice Guys.
Bomer certainly has the looks to play Gambit and could be very interesting in the part. He has shown a great deal of range in his various roles and it is possible he could bring some very interesting aspects to the role.
8 Rumored: Ian Somerhalder
Ian Somerhalder is a name that has been linked to the role of Gambit for years. Given his close resemblance to the character, it's not hard to see why he has become a favorite for the role.
His name was first mentioned for the role when he was on the show Lost. Obviously, several years have passed since then, but Somerhalder doesn't seem to have aged out of the role yet. While a resemblance to the character isn't enough, it would be interesting to see if he can pull off the roguish charm.
7 Want: Gaspard Ulliel
Gaspard Ulliel is probably the least well-known name on this list but he deserves consideration for the role. Ulliel is a French-Canadian actor who has starred in a number of projects in his home country. His biggest role was as Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal Rising and he has also starred in the hockey comedy Goon.
Ulliel is another actor who holds a strong resemblance to the comic books' depiction of Gambit, particularly with those steely eyes. Also, the fact that he is French could likely help bring to life the character's Cajun heritage.
6 Rumored: Josh Holloway
Josh Holloway is another Lost star who has been linked to the part of Gambit in the past. During the planning for X-Men: The Last Stand, Holloway was reportedly cast in the role which was going to be included as a small cameo but was later scrapped.
Holloway's performance on Lost as the charming criminal Sawyer proves that he has the right stuff for his role. He may be a bit too old for the part now, but it all depends on what direction they decide to take the character.
5 Want: Alexander Skarsgard
Alexander Skarsgard is another actor who might be a bit too old for the part but he has the potential to be so good in the role. Skarsgard has starred in many big-budget projects like Battleship and Tarzan, but he has also shown immense talent in projects like Big Little Lies.
Skarsgard looks like an action star and it would be fun to see him play a character that allows him to access his lighter side. Anyone who has seen Zoolander knows he's not afraid to be silly.
4 Rumored: Channing Tatum
Channing Tatum has been trying to play Gambit for years now and every time he seems to be getting closer, he hits another obstacle. Years ago, Tatum even appeared on stage at Comic-Con with the other X-Men actors to tease his Gambit solo film but nothing has become of it.
With a seemingly endless list of directors joining and then leaving the project, Gambit seemed doomed to stay in development hell. Now that the character is no longer at Fox, the project's status is unknown. It's a shame as he could probably play the role quite well.
3 Want: Timothy Olyphant
Once again, this is an option that only works if the filmmakers decide to go a bit older with the character. However, age aside, Timothy Olyphant seems like a solid fit for the role. He is mostly known for his great work on television as a lawman badass in Justified and Deadwood.
Clearly, Olyphant can play a smooth hero with no problem. Santa Clarita Diet also proved he was a very gifted comedic actor, which is always welcomed in the MCU.
2 Rumored: Chris Hemsworth
Before Chris Hemsworth became a household name as the God of Thunder, he was auditioning to play the Cajun cardsharp. Hemsworth recently revealed that he tried out to play Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine but, obviously, didn't get the part.
Things seemed to work out fine for Hemsworth as he was cast as Thor in the MCU shortly after. It's easy to see why he was considered to play Gambit as he has the right look and attitude. But it's clear that Thor is the right role for him.
1 Want: Dacre Montgomery
Dacre Montgomery is one of the standout actors from Stranger Things. As Billy, the slightly psychotic and ultimately tragic character, he was a truly compelling presence in the show, especially in the third season.
If the MCU wants to go younger with their X-Men characters, Montgomery feels like an ideal choice for Gambit. He looks the part and seems able to pull off the cool confidence needed for the part. He is a very interesting actor at the beginning of his career and it would be interesting to see what he can do with a character like this.