Believe it or not, despite the hiccups that ultimately led to Gambit’s potential solo movie being called off – there’s Hollywood talk out there of him getting his own TV show. When, and on what platform, has yet to be announced – but I don’t… I don’t care. I love this rumor.
As reported by the YouTube channel Lords of the Long Box Marvel/Disney have begun to reserve characters and groups including: the Thieves and Assassins Guild, Marauders, Candra, Etienne Marceaux, Pig, Candra, and Bella Donna. Another piece of information gleaned from the rumors is that Fiege’s looking to shoot in NOLA.
The list, combined with the desired filming location scream that this potential series will take place sometime in Gambit’s early life. Etienne and Pig are two figures from his childhood – so is Bella Donna.
There are probably Gambit fans out there less acquainted with some of this. To help, I’ve compiled a bone-up list for those that wish to educate themselves.
1. Gambit Vol. 1 (1993)
This was the first of MANY of Gambit’s miniseries. Written by Howard Mackie it followed Gambit (and Rogue) as he journeyed back home to find his estranged wife near death. The adventure gave us our first taste of NOLA through Gambit’s eyes. It also set up a lot of lore to be mined not just by future X-Men writers, but also other franchises, such as Spider-Man.
2. Gambit Vol. 3, #6 & #7 (1999)
Gambit’s childhood was about as horrific any X-Man. Because you know – if you haven’t had a terrible childhood, you’re not truly an X-Man. In Gambit’s first ongoing series, written by Fabien Nicieza, we were introduced to the monstrous slave trader, ‘Pig’ and Gambit’s friend, Etienne Marceaux.
The inclusion of a character like Pig signifies what we can expect from this series. It’s… not going to be pretty. Not all the time, at least. Pig was a child slave trader and it’s even suggested that he may have taken advantage of Gambit in some way.
3. X-Men Origins: Gambit
Mike Carey is responsible for writing some of the best Gambit as well as a few ‘what the #$#%” moments. Luckily, X-Men Origins: Gambit was the former. In it, Gambit’s background got a tad bit of retconning, but it wasn’t too egregious.
For the most part, it canonized his less than clear past including his role in the Mutant Massacre and how/why he left NOLA as a young man. It also sheds a bit of light on his tenuous relationship with Mister Sinister. If you read nothing else on this list, Origins is probably my best recommendation.
4. Gambit Vol. 5, #15-#17 (2012)
In 2012, Gambit got his 3rd ongoing series under comic book and screenwriter, James Asmus, and artist Clay Mann (most of the time). The story itself was something of a reinvigoration of the character following nearly ten-years of neglect and bad characterization.
Though the series only lasted 17-issues Asmus took Gambit on a world tour that ended with him igniting a prison riot, manipulating both the Avengers and MI-13, then ultimately solidified his role as the leader of the International Thieves Guild and becoming the “King of Thieves”.
5. Uncanny X-Men Annual #14
Not the most important bit of lore on this list – but it is his first appearance. It shows why he and X-Men teammate Storm are as close as they are, as well as how he joined Xavier’s group. Like I said, most of what happens here isn’t all that important, but it’s a bit of good reading just to say you did it.
6. Uncanny X-Men #345-350: The Trial of Gambit
Up until the Age of Apocalypse, Gambit was a fairly light-hearted character – still dark and very much an anti-hero – but pretty go-lucky. After Rogue absorbed a large chunk of his memory – and put him in a coma – things indeed changed. Gambit knew that she had a piece of him somewhere in her subconscious, even if she didn’t realize what it was exactly.
The piece in question was his involvement in the Mutant Massacre. It all came to a head when Magneto, disguised as Eric the Red, revealed Gambit’s secret to his teammates and his lover, Rogue. The fallout saw him exiled from the team for months and changed his relationship with his friends.
7. X-Men #182-187: Blood of Apocalypse
You don’t have to read this. Do yourself a favor and visit Wikipedia. The only reason I suggest this is for reference. In the Blood of Apocalypse, Gambit was transformed into Death, a horseman of Apocalypse.
Related: The 10 Most Monstrous X-Men Transformations
For the most part, it’s an ignored storyline, but it does get referenced from time to time. I doubt it’ll be addressed in a series, but just keep it in the back of your head for safe-keeping.
8. Mr. and Mrs. X #11 & #12
Gambit became the King of Thieves in his last ongoing series, but it was in Kelly Thompson’s Mr. and Mrs. X where he had to drop the proverbial hammer. Par the course for what happens in underground organizations, there was a power struggle. Without Gambit being present, his position became compromised by Candra, an immortal mutant that’s been, sort of, worshipped by both the Assassins and Thieves.
In the end, Gambit had to again prove his worth, out-maneuvered his turn-coat followers, and even unified both clans under his banner. This probably won’t be included in any series, but the idea of unification has been played with before. It was first attempted in NOLA when he and Bella Donna were to be married as young-adults. Obviously, that doesn’t work out, but the notion isn’t ever fully abandoned.
Related: 3 Ways the X-Men Can Enter the MCU and Remain Comic Accurate
If you look at these books, you’ll be caught up for the most part – and then some. I still can’t believe that this series is being talked about. This rumor, when set next to another that suggests that Rogue will debut in Captain Marvel 2, insinuates how mutants may be introduced into the MCU.
With things moving at this pace, its quite possible mutants will be popping up as fully realized characters. With that, I’m veering away from time travel and reality hoping, and going more towards a retro-virus (Ultimate Universe) and the current universe being twisted.
What do you think about a possible Gambit series? Let us know below!