Summary
TheMCUcontinues to push back the release date ofBlade, which gives Marvel the perfect opportunity to have Wesley Snipes come back once more following his surprising return inDeadpool & Wolverine.Bladewas announced back in 2019, with Oscar winning actor Mahershala Ali set to play the titular character. Production for theMCU’sBlademovie has been tumultuous, going through multiple directors and writers, as well as facing the possibility that Ali might eventually walk away from the project altogether.
Now that Snipes has returned as Blade for the first time sinceBlade: Trinityin 2004, Marvel might want to capitalize on all the good will and excitement hisDeadpool & Wolverinecameohas garnered. It might seem like an impossible task to do with Ali still attached to the project, but there is a solution that could see Snipes return to the character in an even more substantial role this time. Ali wouldn’t even have to step away fromMarvel’sBlademovie, as both versions of Eric Brooks can exist simultaneously.
Every Actor Cast In MCU’s Blade Movie (So Far)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Blade will release in 2024, with several well-known cast and crew members already confirmed for the project.
Blade’s Delays Mean Wesley Snipes Could Still Appear In The MCU Movie
WhenBladewas announced to be anupcoming project in the MCU, it had already been 15 years since Wesley Snipes had played the character. It didn’t feel like he would ever come back, so audience members were willing to embrace Mahershala Ali in the role as a welcome addition to an ever-expanding universe. Five years later,Bladehasn’t even been filmed yet, and Snipes returned as Blade inDeadpool & Wolverine.Snipes stepped back into the role like he never leftand hisDeadpool & Wolverinecameo was one of the highlights of the film.
Now that he has shown he still has what it takes and wants to come back,Bladeand Ali might be fighting an uphill battle.
Now that Snipes has played Blade once again, it puts Marvel’sBlademovie in a weird position.Fans love Snipes playing the character, same as Hugh Jackman as Wolverine or Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, and now that he has shown he still has what it takes and wants to come back,Bladeand Ali might be fighting an uphill battle. There might be a simple answer to all of this: put Snipes in the upcomingBlademovie as a variant of Eric Brooks.
Wesley Snipes & Mahershala Ali Could Both Star In The MCU’s Blade Movie
InDeadpool & Wolverine, Wesley Snipes mentions his legacy as the character, saying,“There is only one Blade. There is only ever gonna be one Blade.“It’s definitely a line that quietly pokes fun at the issues Mahershala Ali’sBladefilm has faced.Even though Snipes is iconic as Blade, there can definitely be room for more than one, and the MCU could really lean into the multiverse and have Snipes and Ali play different versions of the character in the same film.
Seeing two amazing actors playing different variants of Blade in the same movie could be amazing. There are multiple directions a film like this could go, butthey could focus on the interactions with Snipes and Ali, and how their respective characters are different, as well as how they are the same. The end could act as a sort of passing of the torch from Snipes to Ali if the MCU wants to continue Blade’s story after the movie.
Giving Blade Two Heroes Would Justify Its Place In The Multiverse Saga
Some of the most successful films followingAvengers: Endgamehave been the ones to heavily feature the multiverse in their stories, includingSpider-Man: No Way Home,Doctor Strange in the Mutliverse of Madness, andDeadpool & Wolverine. Despite being called the Multiverse Saga, Marvel hasn’t leaned into the multiverse aspect as much as fans might have expected.Bladeseemed like another project for the Multiverse Saga that didn’t seem to quite fit, but having Wesley Snipes and Mahershala Ali play different variants of Blade can help the MCUcontinue to flesh out the multiverse before the big finale inAvengers: Secret Wars.
Spider-Man: Far From Homeis the other highest grossing movie post-Endgameand mentions the multiverse, but it isn’t as essential to the plot as some of the other films in the Multiverse Saga.
If the MCU chooses to go that route and include Snipes alongside Ali, it could justifyBlade’splace in the Multiverse Saga. It could help tie intoAvengers: Secret Wars, which would possibly see both characters return as well. The Multiverse Saga has had a rocky journey so far, with the MCU seeing its biggest flops and some of its worst reviewed films. Now thatDeadpool & Wolverinehas been incredibly successful, the MCU really should continue to explore the multiverse, andBladecould be one way it does.
Snipes is an iconic part of comic book film history,withBladehelping pave the way forX-Men,Spider-Man, and eventually the MCU. Having him return as the character following his appearance inDeadpool & Wolverinemight be an interesting direction Marvel could take, since the upcomingBladereboot has been so difficult to nail down. The Multiverse Saga has shown fans that there is more than enough room for multiple iterations of the same character, and seeing Snipes battling vampires alongside Ali could be something special.
Blade
Cast
Marvel Studios' Blade sees the return of the iconic vampire hunter more than two decades after Wesley Snipes first played the character in live-action. Starring Mahershala Ali as Eric Brooks, the Blade reboot officially introduces vampires to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Eternals' second post-credits scene teased the Daywalker’s MCU debut.
