The Real Reason Marvel Didn’t Bring Back Snipes For Blade
Published -
- July 24, 2019
- 11:00 pm
After years away from theaters, the Blade franchise is coming back – but it has a new leading man.
Why did Marvel decide to go with Mahershala Ali as its new Blade instead of sticking with Wesley Snipes? While we wait for the character’s Phase 5 MCU revival, here’s everything we know.
By August of 2019, Wesley Snipes will be 57 years old. Granted, Snipes has aged well and we’re willing to bet the guy who gave us the martial arts moves we saw in his many action flicks can still throw a mean kick. Also, age is meaning less and less these days when it comes to casting. Harrison Ford was 65 when Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was released in theaters, and even though he’s now in his late 70s, he’ll return to the role again in Indiana Jones 5. Not to mention the impressive advances in de-aging technology – something Marvel Studios has already used successfully a number of times to impressive results.
But there are differences between those examples and the potential of casting Snipes as Blade – the most glaring issue being that Blade’s part vampire. A 77-year-old can play Indiana Jones because Indy’s human. In the first Blade film series, it’s established Blade ages normally. But in the comics, while Blade isn’t immortal like full vampires, he ages slower than humans. The new Blade films may be closer to the comics in this way. If so, having a 57-year-old half-vampire who looks like he’s 57 doesn’t work.
What is Blade, and why is it significant in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Marvel Comics holds a special place in the hearts of superhero enthusiasts worldwide. They are responsible for creating some of the most beloved comic book characters of all time, and their cinematic universe has become a cultural phenomenon. One of the early Marvel movie franchises was Blade, the story of a vampire hunter portrayed by Wesley Snipes. Fans of the movie series have often questioned why Snipes was not asked to reprise his legendary role for a new installment. While there are several theories and rumors, the real reason Marvel didn’t bring back Snipes for Blade was his difficult behavior and legal troubles.
Wesley Snipes played Blade in the original trilogy that was released in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The films were well-received, and Snipes became known for his martial arts skills and his commitment to the character. However, behind the scenes, the actor was known for being difficult to work with, and his behavior often caused problems.
One example of Wesley Snipes’s bad behavior was during the filming of Blade: Trinity. He frequently clashed with the director and other members of the cast, and his behavior was so disruptive that some scenes had to be shot with a stand-in rather than with Snipes himself. In addition, Snipes would often stay in his trailer when he was not needed on set, causing significant delays in the filming schedule.
Snipes’s legal troubles did not help his case either. In 2006, he was convicted of tax evasion, which resulted in a three-year prison sentence. The actor’s absence delayed production on Blade: Trinity, which was released in 2004, and called into question his reliability as a performer.
Given Snipes’s behavior and legal issues, Marvel executives likely deemed him too much of a liability to include in their cinematic universe. They would have been risking significant delays, as well as potential disruption to the production schedule due to Snipes’s unpredictable behavior.
It’s worth noting that there were several rumors floating around as to why Snipes did not return for Blade, including issues with Marvel over the rights to the character, and a rumored disagreement over creative control. However, all of these claims have been debunked, with reliable sources confirming that Snipes’s bad behavior was indeed the primary factor.
In conclusion, while fans of Blade may have hoped to see Wesley Snipes return to the role, the reality is that his difficult behavior and legal troubles made him an unsuitable choice for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite his previous success as Blade, it seems likely that Marvel was unwilling to take the risk and bring him back for a new incarnation of the character.
