Before ‘Blade,’ Marvel Almost Made a ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Luke Cage’ Film

As a gamer who’s been around the block more times than I care to remember, I’ve seen my fair share of Hollywood drama and surprises. The return of Wesley Snipes as Blade in Deadpool & Wolverine was indeed a thrilling moment, but it got me reminiscing about the good old days when Blade first graced our screens.


Previously mentioned, Wesley Snipes, known for his iconic role as Blade, unexpectedly showed up in Deadpool & Wolverine, resurrecting one of his most popular characters. Unsurprisingly, fans are excited about his comeback. Additionally, his return has fueled rumors that he might reprise the character in a future film, although no official announcements have been made yet.

Currently, Blade is generating a lot of buzz online as fans are ecstatic about Wesley Snipes returning to one of his iconic roles. Interestingly, delving into the past, we stumbled upon an old interview hinting that the movie we’re now excited about might not have been made at all.

Peter Frankfurt, the producer, David S. Goyer, the writer, and Wesley Snipes, the lead actor, had an extensive conversation with Entertainment Weekly, sharing fascinating insights about the making of the original Blade film series.

In the mentioned interview, Frankfurt, Goyer, and Snipes delved into many production-related aspects, shedding light on intriguing details about the beloved superhero classic. One of the insights shared is that New Line Cinema initially showed reluctance towards a Blade film, with it being the third project pitched to them. Remarkably, we owe the movie’s existence to Goyer.

WESLEY SNIPES [PRODUCER AND ACTOR]: It turned out quite by chance, you see? We were discussing the possibility of working on Black Panther, but it didn’t materialize. However, our desire to be part of that universe didn’t wane. So, Blade seemed like an acceptable substitute. To be honest, I’m not sure if you can swap vampires for Wakanda. But at the time, it was an exciting prospect. [Laughs]

DAVID GOYER [SCREENWRITER]: I had been considering working on films featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme, that sort of genre. I learned that New Line Cinema was planning to produce a lower-budget film featuring a black superhero. At that time, Marvel was in bankruptcy and had already sold the rights for X-Men, Spider-Man, and some other characters. I knew they were considering Luke Cage and Black Panther, among others.

FRANKFURT: The plan was to develop a screenplay for a film with a budget under 10 million, which would be gritty and urban, similar to the style of “Juice” – essentially a Marvel movie infused with hip-hop culture.

YOU: I proposed the trilogy titled “Blade”. I recall walking in and stating, “I’m about to present you the black version of ‘Star Wars’ with a vampire theme.” I pitched it as a storyline that explores racial tension between the pureblood and transformed vampires, featuring characters like Deacon Frost. Additionally, I aimed to discuss race in a covert manner, using the half-breed concept – representing a character who doesn’t fully belong to either world and is rejected by both.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

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2024-08-15 16:14