Wesley Snipes Confirms 'Blade' Role in MCU

If there’s one prolific figure fans are waiting to see in the next phase of the MCU, it’s Blade. The Dhampir vampire hunter ripped through hoards of bloodsuckers in 1998, but the fan-favorite character seems to be the one character Marvel Studios can’t seem to get off the ground… until now.

Wesley Snipes as Blade — Credit: New Line Cinema

Wesley Snipes first donned the leather and fangs as Eric Brooks/Blade in the original R-rated superhero smash, then maintained the role in two more films. Although the Marvel Cinematic Universe has teased its own variant of the heroic half-vampire, creative conflicts, and divisive directions have kept Marvel’s new Blade in the dark.

However, recent developments after Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) just gave fans perhaps the biggest update on the project, whether they meant to or not. An appearance from Wesley Snipes reprising his iconic role amongst the buffet of superhero cameos might have just confirmed his involvement in the MCU’s adaptation.

WARNING!: Spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine beyond this point!

Deadpool Brings Back Blade (and More)

A person wearing black sunglasses and a black leather jacket is smiling in the foreground. Behind them stands another person with bright red hair and a person with a bald head, both partially visible. The background is dark and industrial. — Credit: New Line Cinema

After meddling with the Sacred Timeline during Deadpool 2, the Merc with the Mouth teams up with a reluctant Wolverine from another universe to save their world from the clutches of Casandra Nova (Emma Corrin), a mind-bending mutant with a plot to conquer reality.

Aided by perhaps the largest assortment of character cameos since Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), Deadpool serves up a heaping helping of fan service in perhaps the most gratuitous and action-packed entry in the franchise.

Along with familiar faces like Elektra (Jennifer Garner), X-23 (Dafne Keen), and even an unused variant of Gambit (Channing Tatum), Deadpool is aided by the legendary Blade with Wesley Snipes reprising the role. Being the fourth wall wrecking-ball he is, it was only natural that Deadpool addressed the status of his long-awaited MCU debut.

As Deadpool’s new team of retconned Marvel heroes charges into battle against Casandra Nova and her villainous allies like Pyro, the Juggernaut, Toad, and Lady Deathstrike, Blade comments how among the variants that there’s “only gonna be one Blade,” to which Deadpool looks knowingly at the camera. Can you spell suspicious?

Not Just a Cameo

Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) giving the time-out gesture with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) in the background — Credit: Marvel Studios

Multiple director changes have plagued Blade’s MCU introduction, script rewrites, and production delays, hindering its development and release. While Mahershala Ali was reportedly cast as the new variant, Deadpool & Wolverine might tell viewers more than they know with Snipe’s line.

We might be venturing into some tin-foil-hat territory, but the way Deadpool looks at the camera is downright damning. In this writer’s opinion, Marvel is either keeping Snipes on as Blade for the MCU, or his movies are where the Blade franchise starts and ends, despite a reported 2025 release date.

Kevin Feige wearing a black baseball cap and blue blazer speaks into a microphone while holding a small note card. He is standing in front of a backdrop with text that reads San Diego ComicCon looking every bit the Marvel Boss as he addresses the crowd. — Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

Marvel CEO Kevin Feige also shared some very interesting views on the project around the release of the new Deadpool sequel. During an interview with BlacktreeTV, Feige shared the following statement about the Blade delays.

“The most important thing for us is not rushing it and making the right Blade movie. Because there were some great Blade movies years ago, they were all rated R. That’s inherent, like Deadpool, that’s inherent with the character of Blade.”

With the film having been pushed back, reworked, and rewritten so many times, it wouldn’t surprise this writer if they went back to basics and just brought Snipes back in full regalia. Then again, there’s still the chance it could be outright cancelled for being such a hassle.

It might have been Deadpool’s big tell, or it might have just been another hearty helping of fan service, but Blade’s appearance in this chapter of the MCU was an intentional addition either way. All we can do between now and 2025 is keep our fingers crossed and fangs sharp for Marvel’s favorite vampire slayer.

Do you think Snipes will always be Blade? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!