Wesley Snipes Thought Marvel Didn’t Want Him as Blade — Then Ryan Reynolds Called

Snipes and Reynolds, who previously shared the screen in Blade: Trinity, have teamed up once again in the new Marvel movie, Deadpool & Wolverine. Wesley Snipes recently opened up about how this unexpected collaboration came to be and what it was like reprising his iconic role as Blade.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly after the Comic-Con 2024 Hall H panel, Snipes revealed that Ryan Reynolds reached out to him about returning to the character Blade. "Over the years, we’ve had very interesting conversations, some of them very substantive and some of them not," Snipes said. The actor, who portrayed Blade in 1998’s Blade, its 2002 sequel Blade II, and 2004’s Blade: Trinity, noted that he had moved on from the role but was okay with it. "I did three of them, and I thought they turned out pretty good. Not so bad," Snipes said. "So we move on to other things, and bigger and better things, as well."

Snipes, who is now 61, seemed content with his previous performances and the legacy of the Blade character. However, things took an intriguing turn with Reynolds’ unexpected proposal. The two actors had a friendly rapport from their time on Blade: Trinity, where Reynolds played Hannibal King. Reynolds, 47, who also co-wrote and produced Deadpool & Wolverine, texted Snipes out of the blue with a simple but intriguing message: "I want to talk to you."

The conversation that followed left Snipes quite surprised. "I did not think it was possible," Snipes admitted. "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 version of it." Despite his reservations, Snipes felt compelled to entertain Reynolds’ idea. "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.’"

The outcome was positive. Reynolds detailed the idea, and both Marvel and Disney were on board. "They said ‘yes’ and ‘it’s a go.’ ‘If you’re in, we’re in.’ Here we are," Snipes recounted. This led to Snipes once again donning the mantle of Blade in a storyline that merged the edgy world of Deadpool with the darker tones of Blade.

As for the legacy of Blade, Marvel has already set plans for a new film starring Mahershala Ali. Snipes had previously confirmed in 2021 that he was not involved in this upcoming project but expressed confidence in Ali, noting that he has "a heck of a job on his hands" with the role.

Deadpool & Wolverine hit theaters recently and has already made a significant impact. The film, featuring Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine, earned an estimated $205 million at the domestic box office over its opening weekend. This staggering success has made it the highest-grossing R-rated opening of all time.

Snipes’ return to the role of Blade, a character he brought to life over two decades ago, adds an exciting and nostalgic layer to Deadpool & Wolverine. It’s a testament to the lasting impact of his original portrayal and the power of collaborative storytelling in the Marvel cinematic universe.

Source: People, Entertainment Weekly