Wesley Snipes has made history by breaking not one but two Guinness World Records. This solidifies his status as a legendary figure in the Marvel Universe. If you’re a Marvel fan or just someone who loves a good comeback story, this is undoubtedly a moment worth celebrating. Snipes set two significant records with his return as Blade in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Wesley Snipes’ portrayal of Blade is not only record-breaking but also historically significant. Blade (1998) was the first Marvel superhero movie to show the potential success of comic book adaptations. It established the foundation for the X-Men, Spider-Man, and by and by, the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe that we all love today. Wesley Snipes did not just portray Blade, in some way, he contributed to the creation of the superhero trend that currently dominates Hollywood.
Longest Career as a Live-Action Marvel Character
Snipes now holds the record for the longest run as a live-action Marvel character. He first made an appearance as Blade in 1998. Now after 25 years and 340 days, he is named the longest live-action Marvel character. He surpasses Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine by a little over a year. I think it’s amazing to think that Snipes has been battling vampires for longer than Wolverine has been displaying his claws.
Guinness World Records confirmed Snipes’ record-breaking feat, the 61-year-old beating our Hugh Jackman for the title, with Jackman first appearing as Wolverine in X-Men 24 years ago. Snipes’ return to the screen as Eric Brooks, aka Blade, comes 25 years 340 days after his first appearance, also earning him a record for the longest gap between character appearances in Marvel films, last playing Blade 19 years 231 days ago.
Longest Gap Between Character Appearances
Snipes also set the record for the longest gap between Marvel character appearances. Following his last portrayal of Blade in Blade: Trinity in 2004, Snipes took a break of 19 years before returning to the role in Deadpool & Wolverine. He sets a record for the longest gap between Marvel character appearances, at 19 years and 231 days, to be precise. This breaks Alfred Molina’s previous record of 17 years.
Ranking the Blade Movies
Now, let’s rank the Blade trilogy. Let us evaluate the films that made Snipes the half-vampire, half-human warrior we know and love. They’re all action-packed, but I think some stand out more in the vampire-hunting ranking.
Blade II (2002)
Guillermo del Toro directed this installment, and his influence is clear. The second Blade movie is a thrilling ride that gets deep into vampire stories. It introduces terrifying new creatures called Reapers and forces Blade to collaborate with his enemies. It shows Snipes at his coolest, has beautiful visuals, and is fast-paced. The combination of horror and action in this film is the best, which makes Blade II the favorite in the trilogy.
Blade (1998)
The original film must definitely rank near the top. Blade is where it all began with Blade’s iconic trench coat, sword fighting, and overall no-nonsense attitude. The first movie may not have the same polished visuals as the others, but it makes it up with its atmosphere and raw energy. And I definitely cannot forget that remarkable opening scene in the vampire nightclub.
Blade: Trinity (2004)
Blade: Trinity didn’t receive the same level of praise as the first two films. I believe this is because it attempted to do too much by introducing new characters. The movie introduced Hannibal King, played by Ryan Reynolds, who later became Deadpool, and Abigail Whistler played by Jessica Biel. The film also featured Blade facing off against Dracula, which should have been amazing but felt somewhat underwhelming. Despite the somewhat disappointing plot, Snipes’ performance still stands out.
