Having closed the Stranger Things chapter, the time might have come for Joe Keery to step into another of Hollywood’s most significant franchises.
Joe Keery as Gambit? The fancast that’s been circulating online
For a long time his name has hovered around the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and in recent hours one of the hypotheses circulating online again envisions him in the role of Gambit, ahead of the future introduction of Marvel Studios’ X-Men.
The idea, at least on paper, doesn’t seem that hard to imagine. Keery has built much of Steve Harrington’s popularity on his charisma, his wit, and that swaggering attitude that could suit Remy LeBeau well. For now, however, we are in the realm of speculation: there are no official confirmations, nor are there known negotiations between the actor and Marvel Studios specifically for the Gambit role.
The mutant’s name is just one of many that fans have linked to Keery. In recent months there have been rumors placing him as Cyclops, Nova, Ghost Rider, and even Harry Osborn.
Marvel Studios would really be interested in Joe Keery
Behind the chatter of fancasts, however, there might be a grain of truth. At the beginning of 2026, insider Daniel Richtman reported that Marvel Studios was weighing Joe Keery for a role in the MCU, without specifying which character.
An intriguing lead considering that previously the actor had also been linked to Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Keery himself had publicly addressed the speculation, saying he had seen the numerous videos and fancasts imagining him as Harry Osborn, and he appeared amused and open to the idea of joining the Marvel universe, but without confirming any negotiations.
If Marvel were truly interested in him, what could be the right character? With the X-Men set to become increasingly central to the MCU’s future, it is inevitable that mutants represent one of the most plausible possibilities.
But… Gambit already has the face of Channing Tatum
However, there is one detail that makes the Joe Keery hypothesis considerably more complicated: Gambit has already arrived in the MCU with the face of Channing Tatum. After years spent trying to bring a standalone film for the character to life, the actor finally portrayed Remy LeBeau in a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, and his journey in the Marvel Universe does not seem to have ended there.
This would not necessarily prevent Marvel Studios from choosing a different actor in the future for a new version of the X-Men, especially considering the possibilities offered by the Multiverse. The reboot directed by Jake Schreier will indeed have to progressively build a new generation of mutants.
Schreier himself, however, has urged caution regarding the numerous names circulating online. The director confirmed that behind the scenes there is a process and that several possibilities are being considered, but he also stressed that much of the casting rumors do not originate directly from the production.
To find out whether Joe Keery will indeed be part of this new generation of the X-Men, and above all whether his path could cross Gambit’s, we will have to wait a bit longer. For now, the only certainty is that his name remains one of the fan favorites for the MCU’s future.
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