Wesley Snipes Sets Guinness Record for Blade Return

Wesley Snipes is receiving well-deserved recognition following his surprising return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Guinness World Records recently announced that Snipes has clinched two new titles. His recent cameo in “Deadpool & Wolverine” marks his return to the role of Blade, a character he first brought to life in the 1998 solo film. This return comes nearly 26 years after his debut as the half-vampire “daywalker” known as Eric Brooks.

This milestone breaks a record previously held by Hugh Jackman, who first portrayed Wolverine (aka Logan) in the 2000 film “X-Men.” Jackman was anticipated to surpass Patrick Stewart’s Professor Charles Xavier for the Longest Career as a Live-Action Marvel Character with his latest role. However, Snipes’s return has reset the record.

Moreover, Snipes has achieved another record: the Longest Gap Between Character Appearances in Marvel Films. His last portrayal of Blade was in “Blade: Trinity” back in 2004. This gap spans over 19 years, surpassing Alfred Molina’s return as Doctor Octopus in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021), which was 17 years after “Spider-Man 2” (2004).

Snipes’s collaboration with Ryan Reynolds, who also stars in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” dates back to “Blade: Trinity.” Snipes expressed that he “did not think it was possible” to revisit his iconic character role until Reynolds reached out for the cameo opportunity.

“I didn’t think he would be able to pull it off,” Snipes revealed to Entertainment Weekly. “I didn’t think that Marvel was into it. Disney was into it. And also because they had Mahershala [Ali] cast for the next upcoming version of it. So, it didn’t make sense to me.”

Marvel initially confirmed a reboot of “Blade” with Mahershala Ali as the lead back in 2019. However, the project has faced several hurdles, including the departures of directors Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange, along with delays due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.

The “Blade” reboot is currently slated for a November 7, 2025 premiere, eagerly anticipated by fans who have long awaited the return of the vampire hunter to the big screen.

Snipes’s unexpected return not only highlights his enduring legacy within the Marvel franchise but also showcases how significant his portrayal of Blade was to the character’s popularity. With the reboot on the horizon, Snipes passing the torch to Ali adds another layer of excitement and anticipation for what’s to come in the Blade saga.

Source: Deadline, Entertainment Weekly