Josh Holloway Reveals He Was Cast As Gambit For WOLVERINE Role Before Taylor Kitsch

Before Taylor Kitsch suited up as Remy LeBeau in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), another actor was already celebrating landing the role. Over the weekend at Fan Expo Portland, Josh Holloway shared a surprising behind-the-scenes story during a panel moderated by Collider, revealing that he was once cast as Gambit, only to have the decision reversed at the last minute.

At the time, Holloway was a popular fan choice for the Cajun mutant, thanks to his breakout role on Lost and his natural charisma. When asked whether there was a specific superhero role he had wanted to play, Holloway didn’t hesitate to bring up Gambit and detailed just how close he came to bringing the character to life on screen.

According to Holloway, the casting process went far enough that he actually tested opposite Hugh Jackman, who was already firmly established as Wolverine. That audition appeared to seal the deal until priorities shifted.

“Well Gambit was one,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I read with Hugh Jackman and got the part. 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. Which, I wonder if he could come back? Who knows, but thank you. I learned the card tricks and everything.”

The story highlights how fluid and unpredictable blockbuster casting can be, especially within major franchises like X-Men. Holloway’s comments also suggest just how close the production came to moving forward with him.

With Marvel Studios now fully in control of the X-Men characters and openly exploring multiverse storytelling, Holloway’s remarks naturally spark speculation. Could there still be a place for his version of Gambit someday? As Holloway himself joked, “Who knows?”

At the very least, it’s a fascinating “what could have been” moment, and a reminder that sometimes, even when you get the hug and the handshake, nothing is truly final.

Source: Collider

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