Wesley Snipes returns as Blade in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’: A surprising comeback

A nostalgic return to the Marvel universe

Wesley Snipes, the iconic actor who first brought the vampire hunter Blade to life in the late ’90s, has made a surprising return in the latest Marvel blockbuster, Deadpool & Wolverine. This unexpected cameo has thrilled fans and reignited interest in the character. Snipes recently shared his experiences and thoughts on reprising his role after two decades.

The journey back to Blade

Reflecting on his return, Snipes mentioned that he had mixed feelings about stepping back into Blade’s shoes. “Over the years, we’ve had very interesting conversations, some of them very substantive and some of them not,” he said. “I kind of resided that I was moving on from them, which is okay. I did three of them, and I thought they turned out pretty good. Not so bad… So we move on to other things, and bigger and better things, as well.”

Snipes first portrayed Blade in the 1998 film of the same name, followed by Blade II in 2002, directed by Guillermo del Toro, and Blade: Trinity in 2004. The latter film co-starred Ryan Reynolds, who played a significant role in bringing Snipes back for Deadpool & Wolverine. Reynolds reached out to Snipes with a simple yet intriguing message: “I want to talk to you.”

The unexpected call

“I did not think it was possible,” Snipes admitted about his return to Blade. “I didn’t think we would be able to pull it off. I didn’t think that Marvel was into it, Disney was into it — also because they had Mahershala [Ali] cast for the next upcoming version of it… I thought it didn’t make sense to me, but [when] you get a call from Ryan Reynolds out of the blue after 20 years, you go, ‘Okay, I got to take this call. Let’s see what this is about.’ He told me the idea… They said ‘yes’ and ‘it’s a go.’ ‘If you’re in, we’re in.’ Here we are.”

Marvel’s ongoing Blade reboot

Marvel has been working on a Blade reboot with Mahershala Ali for the past few years, though the project has faced numerous development challenges. The film has seen several directors and screenwriters come and go, with the latest being Yann Demange’s exit and Eric Pearson stepping in as the new screenwriter. Despite these hurdles, Snipes’ return in Deadpool & Wolverine has not been affected by the reboot’s tumultuous journey.

Snipes’ preparation for the role

Returning to the role of Blade after 20 years was no small feat for Snipes. “I wasn’t Blade ready, man. I don’t walk around as Blade every day, you know what I mean?” he joked. “With a trench coat and shades and fangs in my mouth. We had to work out. We definitely had to get the body, and my biggest concern was being in condition enough to deal with whatever the action was. They didn’t really tell me what the action was going to be, so I prepared for whatever that was going to come.”

Snipes’ dedication to getting back into shape for the role was evident. “Thankfully, I didn’t have to do as much as I thought I would because the action movies are tough. They’re not easy at all by any means. About a month into it, I got the body right… and then, with the help of a little customized foam well placed in certain areas, it was all good to go, baby. Let’s ride!”

The future of Blade

While the future of Mahershala Ali’s Blade remains uncertain, Snipes’ return in Deadpool & Wolverine has provided fans with a nostalgic and thrilling experience. Whether or not Ali’s Blade finally makes it to the screen, Snipes’ cameo has reminded audiences of the character’s enduring appeal and the actor’s significant contribution to the Marvel universe.

Deadpool & Wolverine is now playing in theaters nationwide. For those eager to see Snipes’ return as Blade, you can watch the trailer here.

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