Fans have been patiently waiting for news about Blade starring Mahershala Ali following the reveal at SDCC in 2019, and the recent announcement that Bassam Tariq will be helming the movie has only increased the hype for the Vampire Hunter's return to the big screen as a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
A release date or details for Blade have yet to be announced, but fans have come to expect cameos from actors like the star of the original trilogy, Wesley Snipes. The first live-action vampire hunter has expressed excitement for the reboot, so we're taking a look at a few ways that Wesley Snipes could potentially cameo in Marvel Studios' upcoming adaptation of Blade.
10 He Could Cameo As A Random Background Character
Fans have gotten used to seeing superstar cameos in the roles of random background characters thanks to Stan Lee's frequent appearances across the MCU, though they were eventually tied together by his report to the Watchers in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
And while Blade likely won't be the type of comedic movie that can really capitalize on a random comedic cameo, it's still possible Wesley Snipes could turn up as a cab driver or give needed information to the new Blade in the movie.
9 Wesley Snipes Could Play A Multiversal Version Of Blade
Disney+ series like WandaVision and Loki along with upcoming movies like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness have both introduced and are set to explore the Marvel multiverse which is filled with various different versions of characters from alternate realities.
There hasn't been any indication that Blade would also be set to explore the multiverse, though Wesley Snipes could easily make an appearance as the original Blade and join other returning characters like Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus and Jamie Foxx's Electro in the MCU.
8 He Could Appear As Blade's Movie Mentor Abraham Whistler
Kris Kristofferson debuted as the original character of Abraham Whistler in the first Blade movie and could likely still pull off the role even in his eighties, though if Whistler is included in the Marvel Studios reboot then it's likely he will be recast.
If Wesley Snipes were to take on the role of Blade's mentor, it would certainly be an interesting way to homage the original movie though that would amount to a bit more than a cameo depending on Whistler's potential involvement.
7 Wesley Snipes Could Also Portray Blade's Father, Lucas Cross
While Blade's mother Tara Brooks was played by Sanaa Lathan and had a large role in the original movie, cinematic fans have never learned about his Latverian father, Lucas Cross. Cross was imprisoned before his pregnant wife Tara was bitten, and he was also later turned into a vampire while in captivity.
Cross is usually portrayed as Caucasian in the comics, though his potential appearance as a villain in the new adaptation could provide a very interesting role for Wesley Snipes that would give him a chance to be a vampire on the other side of the war.
6 Jamal Afari Was A Jazz-Playing Vampire Hunter Who Trained Blade
Whistler was Blade's movie mentor, though he was raised and trained by a different character in the comics named Jamal Afari who made his living as a jazz musician after retiring due to old age from a lifetime as a vampire hunter.
Young Eric Brooks/Blade helped save Afari's life from revenge-fueled vampires, and he in turn helped raise the young boy to become a vampire hunter. Afari is another role that could be considered larger than a cameo if Wesley Snipes joined the cast, though it would be a fitting role for the original vampire hunter to help train the next generation.
5 He Could Voice Almost Any Member Of Hydra's D.O.A. Squad
The evil terrorist organization known as Hydra was one of the biggest threats facing the Avengers during the early phases of the MCU, and their multi-limbed organization has a number of sections that include the supernatural Department of Occult Armaments. If the upcoming Blade reboot was attempting to ground itself in the MCU with a connection to Hydra, the D.O.A. fits perfectly.
The D.O.A. was led by Lt. Belial and sought to create an army of vampire super-soldiers, and the roster was filled with monstrous undead members who fought against Blade and the Nightstalkers that Snipes could provide a voice for like other cameos in the MCU, or even portray their leader for a larger role as well.
4 The Lilin Also Featured A Number Of Monstrous Characters
Blade and his Nightstalkers joined a team of other supernatural characters like Doctor Strange, Morbius, and Ghost Rider in the 90s called the Midnight Sons who gathered to stop the rise of the Darkhold and other evil creatures like Lilith, Mother of Demons.
Lilith's children were known as the Lilin and featured a number of other monstrous villains like Outcast, Pilgrim, or the evil Switchblade that could be voiced or even played by Wesley Snipes for an easy cameo if the movie adapts the Rise of the Midnight Sons event.
3 The Carpathian Is A Monstrous Member Of The Legion Of The Unliving
Blade has dealt with a number of powerful groups of vampires in the comics over the years, though one of the most deadly is a group known as the Legion of the Unliving, a classic supernatural group that was reorganized by the son of Dracula who took the name of the Shadow Colonel.
While there are a number of creatures that would be CG and need a voice like Wesley Snipes to add the cameo element if the Legion was adapted for the big screen, a fully-transformed vampire bat monster with incredible strength known as The Carpathian would be the most exciting choice.
2 Blade Could Be Accompanied By His Avengers' Pet Boy-Thing
One of Shadow Colonel's first missions was to use a stolen piece of the supernatural creature known as Man-Thing to grow a smaller version that he called Boy-Thing which he kept chained to his shoulder so it could produce an unlimited supply of wooden stakes he could use in his mission to weed out weaker vampires.
Blade was able to free Boy-Thing who then bonded with the Vampire Hunter to provide the same service and even outfit him in head-to-toe armor. And while he doesn't usually say much more than verbalizing sounds, it would still be a fun cameo for Snipes if the cinematic Blade was equipped with his incredibly useful little buddy.
1 Varnae Is The Lord Of Vampires Who Has Also Faced Doctor Strange
One of the most interesting characters for Wesley Snipes to cameo as in the upcoming Blade reboot from Marvel Studios is Varnae, Lord of the Vampires. The monstrous vampire usually has a horrifying form though he briefly took over the body of the villain Night Terror when he was reborn in the modern-day.
Varnae has never been seen on the big screen before but has ties to Doctor Strange, Doctor Voodoo, and of course, Blade and the Nightstalkers. He is the ultimate vampiric villain of the Marvel universe who could help introduce the ancient history of the vampires in the MCU while also provide a worthy threat for the new Blade.