The return of the iconic Wesley Snipes surprises Blade fans

The Blade universe is once again capturing the attention of fans 27 years after its premiere, driven by the surprise reappearance of Wesley Snipes as the vampire hunter in Deadpool and Wolverine (2024) and the recent death of Kris Kristofferson, who played mentor Abraham Whistler.

The saga, which debuted in 1998 and established itself as one of Marvel's first cinematic successes, continues to leave its mark on both popular culture and the careers of its protagonists.

Since its release on August 21, 1998, Blade has established itself as a benchmark in superhero cinema , paving the way for two sequels and an attempted reboot with Mahershala Ali, a project that has remained on indefinite hiatus since 2019.

The film, directed by Stephen Norrington, marked a milestone for Marvel and catapulted its main cast to international fame. Snipes' recent return to the character, sharing the screen with Ryan Reynolds—with whom he had previously worked in Blade: Trinity—surprised even the actor himself. "I didn't think it was possible. I didn't think we could pull it off," Snipes confessed in July 2024.

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Wesley Snipes, who already had a solid previous career in titles such as White Men Can't Jump (1992), The Waterdance (1992) and One Night Stand (1997), consolidated his image as an action hero thanks to the trilogy. Subsequently, he participated in films such as Brooklyn's Finest (2009), The Expendables 3 (2014) and Coming 2 America (2021), in addition to venturing into television with series such as The Player (2015) and True Story (2021).

Off-screen, Snipes founded the production company Amen-Ra Films in 1991 and co-wrote the fantasy novel Talon of God in 2017. Personally, he is the father of five children and has been married to painter Nakyung “Nikki” Park since 2003. His life has also been marked by legal troubles: in 2008, he was convicted of failing to file tax returns and served 28 months in prison, until his release in April 2013.

Kris Kristofferson: The Mentor and Legend

The legacy of Kris Kristofferson, who played Abraham Whistler, transcends cinema. Recognized as a country music legend, he wrote hits like " Me and Bobby McGee," "Sunday Morning' Comin' Down," and "For the Good Times," and pursued an acting career with titles like The Last Movie (1971), A Star Is Born (1976), and Heaven's Gate (1980).

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Following his time with Blade, he continued to achieve success, including being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and receiving an honorary Grammy in 2014. Kristofferson, who officially retired in 2021 due to memory issues, passed away on September 28, 2024, at his home in Hana, Hawaii, at the age of 88. He had been married to Lisa Meyers since 1983 and was the father of eight children.

Stephen Dorff: From villain Deacon Frost to television

Stephen Dorff, who played the antagonist Deacon Frost, already had experience as a child actor before Blade.

The film's success led to his roles in productions such as Cecil B. DeMented (2000), Public Enemies (2009), Somewhere (2010), Immortals (2011), and The Iceman (2012). On television, he starred as Roland West in the third season of True Detective (2019) and as Vance Simkins in The Righteous Gemstones (2023–2025). His most recent projects include Bride Hard and Gunslingers, both in 2025.

Constanza Gomez Guasca, Economics and Business Editorial Staff