Rumor has it that Blade is going to be one of the many multiversal cameos we can expect for Deadpool 3.
Daniel Richtman, who has proven to be a reputable source of Marvel news over on X, has reported that, while he doesn’t know who will play the vampire hunter, he will make an appearance in the upcoming movie.
Why Doesn’t Blade Have His Own Film Coming Up?
There’s no easy way to answer that question.
Blade has had a host of interruptions and delays since its initial announcement. Marvel’s SDCC 2022 panel disclosed that Blade was scheduled to hit theaters on November 3, 2023. With the departure of its director, the film faced a setback, resulting in a nine-month delay to September 6, 2024. The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes went on to prevent all progress on the movie, particularly given the ongoing script revisions. While the film is presently slated for 2024, we wouldn’t be surprised if an announcement came to push it back again.
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With this in mind, giving us our first glimpse of Blade in Deadpool 3 could be a good way to introduce the character into the MCU and whet fans’ appetites.
But Why Is Wesley Snipes Being Touted To Play Blade Again?
The rumor mill tells us that Mahershala Ali (who played Blade in an uncredited Eternals voice cameo, as well as voicing Aaron Davis/Prowler in both Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse and Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse) has considered leaving the role behind.
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There’s no confirmation on this as of yet, but it has led to speculation that Wesley Snipes could reprise the role he played in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
What Were Wesley Snipes’ Blade Movies Like?
Wesley Snipes portrayed the character, Blade, in a trilogy of films that played a significant role in popularizing comic book adaptations in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The first film, Blade (1998), was directed by Stephen Norrington and set up Blade’s story as a vampire hunter on a mission to eradicate vampires from the world after he teams up with his mentor Abraham Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) and hematologist Karen Jenson (N’Bushe Wright). It was well-received for its action sequences, special effects, and Snipes’ portrayal of the character. It helped pave the way for other superhero films.
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The sequel, Blade II (2002), was directed by Guillermo del Toro and sees Blade form an uneasy alliance with a group of vampires to combat a new, more dangerous enemy known as the Reapers, a mutated breed of vampires that feed on both humans and vampires.
Finally, 2004’s Blade: Trinity (directed by David S. Goyer) saw Blade become the target of a smear campaign orchestrated by the vampire elite. He is framed for the killing of a human, and a group of vampire hunters called the Nightstalkers, led by Hannibal King (Ryan Reynolds) and Abigail Whistler (Jessica Biel), helps the vampire hunter clear his name.
So Snipes and Reynolds Have Worked Together On A Blade Movie Before
Yes, and it didn’t go particularly well, which is why the idea of a reunion is a surprise.
Wesley Snipes’ portrayal of the anti-hero and his martial arts skills were generally well-received, and the success of these films contributed to the popularity of superhero movies and paved the way for future Marvel adaptations.
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However, Snipes’ method acting made it difficult for Reynolds to get to know him. While Reynolds has said he has the ‘utmost respect’ for Snipes’ decision to indulge in method acting while filming, he said that he “never met Wesley, [he] only met Blade.”
So it’s not like there’s enmity between the two. They just didn’t leave the Blade: Trinity set as BFFs. So it could be nice to see them reunited.
It Would Be A Star-Studded Cast!
Alongside Reynolds reprising his role as Deadpool, franchise alumni Karan Soni (Dopinder), Leslie Uggams (Blind Al), Morena Baccarin (Vanessa), Stefan Kapicic (Colossus), Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead), Shioli Kutsuna (Yukio), and Rob Delaney (Peter) are all set to return. If we also get the legendary Hugh Jackman returning as Wolverine as expected, it really is shaping up to be a great cast indeed.
Deadpool 3 will release on May 3rd, 2024. Do you want to see the vampire hungter appear in Deadpool 3? Would you rather see him played by Mahershala Ali or Wesley Snipes? Or, if we’re multiversing, is there another actor you’d like to see play the part of Marvel’s most successful vampire hunter? Let us know over on our social media.
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Source: Comicbookmovie
