Before Marvel Studios announced that it is developing a Blade reboot starring Mahershala Ali, original Blade actor Wesley Snipes had actually drafted two scripts for the then-potential Blade 4.
Will there be a Blade 4?
For several years after the final installment of the Blade trilogy hit theaters in 2004, there had been conversations to continue the big-screen franchise with another follow-up movie. Those sequel talks, however, ultimately came to an end when Marvel announced at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con that they are rebooting the franchise with a Blade movie set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
While details on the then-potential Blade 4 were kept under wraps, Snipes recently revealed that he and his team had actually written two scripts for the project.
“We actually wrote two scripts [for Blade 4],” the actor told ComicBook.com in a recent interview promoting the Kickstarter campaign for The Exiled. “We have two versions of a story that would’ve fit well into the Blade world. But since we didn’t go that route and we didn’t have the knock on the door again, we tweaked them and now we use them for something else. So I got two Blade killers.”
Though there had been talks for a Blade 4 several years ago, Snipes noted that he has never approached Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios with the said scripts.
Wesley Snipes as Blade
Snipes made his debut appearance as Blade, aka Eric Brooks, in the 1998 movie Blade. He then reprised the role in 2002’s Blade II and in 2004’s Blade: Trinity.
The big-screen trilogy continued in the short-lived Blade: The Series, which aired for one season on Spike in 2006. Though the show took place after the events of Blade: Trinity, Snipes was not part of the show. Instead of Snipes, the title role was played by Kirk “Sticky Fingaz” Jones.
Mahershala Ali as Blade
Ali first had an uncredited voice cameo as Blade in 2021’s Eternals. Bassam Tariq will direct the Blade reboot from a script written by Stacy Osei-Kuffour. Filming is expected to begin this October at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, and will also take place in New Orleans, Cleveland, and Morocco. The reboot doesn’t have an opening date yet and will be released in a future MCU phase.
Wesley Snipes on Mahershala Ali’s casting as Blade
After the Blade reboot starring Ali was announced in 2019, Snipes released a statement saying that he’s actually okay with the reboot and was excited to see Ali play the character on the big screen.
“To all the DAYWALKERS losing their minds right now, chillaaxx. Although the news comes as a surprise, it’s ALL GOOD. Such is the ‘business’ of ‘entertainment!’” said Snipes in the statement to ComicBook.com. “Much peace to the MCU crew — always a fan. Honor and respect to the grandmaster Stan [Lee].”
Snipes went on to congratulate Ali for scoring the title role. “Congratulations and Salaam to Mahershala Ali, a beautiful and talented artist whose expressions I look forward to experiencing for many years to come,” Snipes told Ali. “Inshallah, we will someday work together.”
Snipes ended his statement with a big shout-out to his supporters. “To my loyal fans, the incredible outpouring of love [you’ve given me] is overwhelming,” the actor said. “I am grateful for the never-ending support. So, ‘nah fret nah worry, it’s not de end of de story.’ Welcome to the Daywalker Klique.”
Is Wesley Snipes still acting?
Snipes didn’t stop acting after starring in the Blade trilogy.
Wesley Snipes movies
Post-Blade trilogy, Snipes appeared in 2009’s Brooklyn Finest, 2014’s The Expendables, 2019’s Dolemite Is My Name, and 2021’s Coming 2 America, just to name a few. He will be next seen on the big screen in the upcoming comedy movie Back on the Strip, opposite Kevin Hart and Tiffany Hadish.
Wesley Snipes TV series
On the TV front, Snipes was part of the cast of the ABC drama H.E.L.P., Fox’s crime thriller The Player, and the Netflix drama True Story. He currently plays Damon Moore in the syndicated drama Paper Empire.