The bromance is real between actors Channing Tatum and Ryan Reynolds.
The Deadpool & Wolverine stars warmly showed admiration for each other on Instagram Stories following the film's $205 million opening weekend debut. On Monday,Tatum honored his co-star for reviving his portrayal of Marvel Comics character Gambit in the film
Tatum's Gambit film had originally gotten the greenlight by 20th Century Fox, but was shuttered when Disney bought the studio in 2019. The actor would admit to Variety in 2022 that it shattered him to the point that he was "traumatized" to watch Marvel films.
On Instagram, the Magic Mike actor posted two versions of himself posing alongside Reynolds, the first from 2015, and the second from July 25, 2024, one day before the release of Deadpool & Wolverine.
"These pictures are almost 10 years apart to the day," Tatum, who wore a Gambit t-shirt in both images, wrote. "I sat in the audience when Ryan showed his first peek of Deadpool to the world and I think I ran backstage right after and found him and I think I just hugged him and was like holy shit you did it man. It’s perfect."
He continued, "I didn’t know him really at all back then. But since then I can say that there is almost no one that has had my back in this industry more than Ryan."
Tatum added that he "thought I had lost Gambit forever. But he fought for me and Gambit. I will owe him probably forever. Cause I’m not sure how I could ever do something that would be equal to what this has meant to me. I love ya buddy."
Tatum also thanked director Shawn Levy for being a "brilliant creator on every single level."
Reynolds would return the love in his own Instagram Stories.
"Imagine having a front row seat to this guy. He's not only a once in a generation talent but he's a genuinely good man. I know what it feels like to will a character into existence," he wrote.
He continued, "Chan did that. And then put the most vivid version of that character on the screen like he was born to play this one guy."
"We've shared two San Diego Comic-Cons. Two of the best days in my life happened while @channingtatum wore this shirt. Coincidence or conspiracy?" Reynolds concluded, adding a poll with both options.
If Gambit gets enough praise once Deadpool & Wolverine end its theatrical run, we could see the character have his own MCU spinoff.