Josh Holloway Was Offered Gambit in X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE Then Dropped Because He Was Too Old

For years, fans have tossed around the idea that Josh Holloway from Lost would’ve made a killer Gambit. Turns out, that dream almost became reality. The Lost star has revealed he was actually cast as the Cajun mutant in X-Men Origins: Wolverine before the studio suddenly changed course and let him go.

Holloway shared the story during an interview with Collider, and it sounds like the deal was very real and very far along.

“Well Gambit was one. As a matter of fact, I read with Hugh Jackman and got the part. I learned the card tricks and everything.” At that point, it seemed like Holloway was locked in and ready to suit up alongside Hugh Jackman.

Then the rug was pulled out from under him. “They hugged me, said, ‘You’re it! I’ll see you on set.’ By the end of that evening, the studio head had called and said, ‘We want someone 10 years younger.’ So they got Taylor Kitsch,”

At the time, Holloway was 40 years old, while Taylor Kitsch was 28, fresh off his Friday Night Lights run.

Released in 2009, X-Men Origins: Wolverine followed Logan as he’s dragged out of isolation after a brutal attack tied to his past. The film expanded the mutant roster in a big way, bringing in characters like Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds, Sabretooth portrayed by Liev Schreiber, and Silver Fox, played by Lynn Collins.

In hindsight, missing out on Gambit may not sting all that much. Kitsch’s version of the character only appeared in that single movie, and Gambit vanished from the franchise entirely for years.

The film itself struggled critically and commercially, landing with a rough 37% score on Rotten Tomatoes and quickly becoming one of the more divisive entries in the X-Men lineup.

Gambit didn’t resurface on the big screen until Channing Tatum popped up as Remy LeBeau in the MCU hit Deadpool & Wolverine, which was a moment fans had waited a long time to see. That appearance wasn’t a one-off either as Tatum is officially set to return as Gambit in Avengers: Doomsday.

As for Holloway, his near-miss as Gambit is one of those Hollywood what-ifs. It’s also a role that really would’ve done nothing for his career.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026.