“Both Wesley and the audience deserve a Blade 4”: It Took Ryan Reynolds 1 Phone Call to Debunk All Wesley Snipes Feud Rumors as Fans Demand Mahershala Ali’s Doomed Blade Movie Cancelation

Deadpool & Wolverine was packed with unexpected cameos that took fans by surprise, with Wesley Snipes’ return as Blade standing out as one of the most thrilling. People were absolutely electrified when Snipes appeared, not realizing just how much they had missed seeing him as the iconic vampire hunter.

After two decades away from the role, Snipes’ comeback was made possible by a single call from Ryan Reynolds. This reunion of star and character was a nostalgic treat for fans who had longed for Blade’s return to the big screen.

How Ryan Reynolds Convinced Wesley Snipes to Return as Blade with Just One Phone Call

At Comic-Con 2024 in San Diego, Wesley Snipes sat down with Entertainment Weekly and shared how Ryan Reynolds made his cameo possible.

Despite longstanding rumors of tension between the two actors dating back to the 2004 Blade: Trinity days (via IGN), Snipes not only debunked these myths but also detailed how Reynolds played a crucial role in making his return a reality. He said,

I got a call. It started with a text from Ryan Reynolds, and I saw a text that said, ‘I want to talk to you.’ I was like, ‘I hate this guy.’ We have been playing this like two decades, but we’ve actually liked each other the whole time. Anyway, he called and told me he had this idea and explained what the idea was.

I said, ‘I don’t know how you’re going to pull that off; it’s very unlikely.’ I said, ‘Well, if you make it happen, sure, I’ll come and do it.’ 

He then went on to say that he was initially hesitant, particularly due to the buzz around Mahershala Ali as the new Blade, a project now labeled as doomed. He mentioned his concerns, saying,

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’ve 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.

Fans were over the moon about the return, and here’s what they’re saying,

Both Wesley and the audience deserve a Blade 4.
I’d much rather watch that than the remake.

— Lord Firgens (@Lord_RFirgens) July 30, 2024

Wait the beef between him and Ryan was a joke the whole time??? Either way it was awesome to see him as Blade one last time, the first 2 movies are some of my favorite comic book films. I was so hyped when he walked into frame.

— Conor #ThankYouToriyama (@CJMatt22094) July 30, 2024

It was one of my favorite parts of the movie. I'm glad Ryan made that happen. Give Wesley his flowers for helping to save the franchise.

— Lewis Pike (@LewisPike_) July 30, 2024

I had a smile from ear to ear when Wesley showed up on screen.

Blade II is still up there as one of my favourite Superhero movies, I hope we see him again Secret Wars..or hell! Have him team up with Mahershala Ali. 2 Blades must join forces to stop a new vampire on the rise

— Hugo (@HELLRAIZER24) July 30, 2024

I don't think anybody expected to see his cameo, that had my theater in complete shock.

— #MusicDefinesMe (@theR5archives) July 30, 2024

Best cameo appearance EVER! The slow motion entrance with the music bumpin was so tough!

— Jayson 🌾 Cuba 🌾 (@JaysonCuba) July 30, 2024

Whatever the future holds for Blade, fans are definitely not done with Wesley Snipes. They’re eager to see more of him, and only time will reveal how much of that will come to pass.

What’s Going On with Mahershala Ali’s Blade?

Was Wesley Snipes’ ‘there can be only one Blade’ line in Deadpool & Wolverine, Marvel’s way of signaling that the Mahershala Ali Blade project may never happen, given its ongoing production delays?

The upcoming Blade movie, which was announced in 2019 with Ali attached, has been stuck in development hell for ages now. Despite plans to start filming in Summer 2023, it’s been delayed by the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, production issues, and scheduling conflicts. Marvel’s San Diego Comic-Con panel, which highlighted projects like Avengers, Fantastic Four, and Thunderbolts, also made no mention of the stalled Blade reboot.

With Eternals underperforming, which essentially reintroduced the character to the saga, and the project struggling to find a steady director or even a writer, added with Marvel’s silence on Blade at SDCC raises concerns about its future. Though the movie is set for release on November 7, 2025, meeting this deadline seems increasingly unlikely.

Deadpool & Wolverine is playing in theaters