Deadpool & Wolverine‘s biggest surprise cameo was Wesley Snipes’ vampire-hunter character Blade. Fans never expected Snipes to return to his role after how messy things turned out after Blade: Trinity. During his appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, Snipes explained how his role in the film happened and, most importantly, his biggest challenge in reprising the role.
The Demolition Man actor revealed that he was in no shape to play the action hero when the call came from Ryan Reynolds. He is older than any other superhero actor who appeared in the film as he turns 62 this July 31st. Critics often point out how Snipes’ Blade trilogy saved the entire Marvel universe from going bankrupt.
Wesley Snipes Opens Up About His Biggest Challenge In Reprising The Blade Role
After keeping it secret for months (even from his family members), Wesley Snipes revealed his Blade role in Deadpool & Wolverine at the San Diego Comic-Con. He shared that he never thought he would return to the role after almost two decades since his last appearance.
While keeping the role was definitely a major challenge for Snipes, what proved even more challenging was to get into shape for the role. Snipes shared with EW during his SDCC appearance that he wasn’t Blade-ready when he was asked to join the film. Snipes shared that he had to work out and be prepared for whatever action he had to do in the film.
He shared that it took two months for him to prepare for the role. He didn’t have challenging action roles in the film as he had initially anticipated. Nevertheless, it wasn’t an easy task by any means for the 61-year-old actor. The Dolemite is My Name actor shared with EW:
I wasn’t Blade-ready, man. I don’t walk around as Blade every day, you know what I mean? With a trench coat and shades and fangs in my mouth. We had to work out. We definitely had to get the body, and my biggest concern was being in condition enough to deal with whatever the action was. They didn’t really tell me what the action was going to be, so I prepared for whatever that was going to come.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to do as much as I thought I would because the action movies are tough. They’re not easy at all by any means. About a month into it, I got the body right… and then, with the help of a little customized foam well placed in certain areas, it was all good to go, baby. Let’s ride!
Fans never thought Snipes would join the film alongside Ryan Reynolds since they allegedly had a falling out during Blade: Trinity. According to Patton Oswalt, Snipes was very difficult to work with on the set of the movie (via AV Club). Oswalt also mentioned that Reynolds’ role was expanded in the movie to compensate for Snipes’ absence from the set.
Wesley Snipes Explained How He Landed The Role In Deadpool & Wolverine
Even Wesley Snipes never thought he would reprise the Blade role, that too alongside Ryan Reynolds, until he received a call from the actor after almost 20 years. Snipes had moved on from the role a long time back and the final straw was Marvel casting Mahershala Ali in the titular role in MCU’s Blade movie.
When Reynolds called, it only made sense for Snipes to take the call and hear out what the Green Lantern actor had to say. Reynolds explained the idea and shared with him that he got the green light from Marvel to proceed with it. The ball was in Snipes’ court to accept or turn down the offer.
He did the smart thing and took on the role only to receive the biggest celebratory welcome at the Comic-Con. Snipes shared with EW:
I did not think it was possible. 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 cast for the next upcoming version of it.
I thought it didn’t make sense to me, but [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.’ He told me the idea. They said ‘yes’ and ‘it’s a go.’ ‘If you’re in, we’re in.’ Here we are.
Many believe that the appearance and reception of Wesley Snipes’ Blade is the right direction for Mahershala Ali‘s film. Sadly, the film did not receive any significant update or mention from Marvel’s SDCC today.
Deadpool & Wolverine is currently running in theaters.
