One Role Wesley Snipes Almost Turned Down That Defined His Career

Wesley Snipes was already a rising star in Hollywood, known for his roles in dramas and action films. He had worked with acclaimed directors and was building a reputation as a serious actor. His career seemed to be on a clear path toward dramatic roles and major awards.

However, a unique opportunity came his way that would challenge this trajectory. It was a comic book adaptation, a genre that, at the time, did not have the prestige it does today. His team was firmly against it, viewing the role as a step down for an actor of his caliber.

The film was 1998’s “Blade,” and the role was the half-human, half-vampire hero himself. Snipes’ representatives were concerned it would hurt his image. “Most of the representation I had at the time were very against me doing the Blade role,” Snipes recalled.

“They considered me a classical actor, a professional trained actor and it was beneath the skillset. My trajectory was to do dramatic types of roles and work my way toward getting awards.”

But Snipes saw something special in the project that others missed. The character was unlike anything seen on screen before. “[But] I’d never seen a Black vampire that did karate before,” he explained. For Snipes, the originality of the character was a major draw. He saw the chance to create a new kind of hero. “[We] had never seen a cool, Shaft-like vampire that did karate at the same time. We’ve got to do this movie.”

His decision to go against the advice of his team paid off immensely. “Blade” was a box office success, grossing over $131 million worldwide. It spawned two sequels, “Blade II” (2002) and “Blade: Trinity” (2004), cementing Snipes’ status as an action star. The trilogy was a precursor to the modern superhero movie boom, proving that films based on less mainstream comic book characters could be major hits.

The role became Snipes’ most iconic, blending his martial arts skills with a cool, stoic demeanor that defined the character for a generation. His portrayal was so influential that it set a new standard for comic book adaptations and opened the door for a wave of superhero films that followed.

The success of “Blade” is often credited with paving the way for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Looking back, the role that was once seen as a potential career misstep became the one that defined Wesley Snipes’ legacy in cinema.

What did you think of ‘Blade’? Let us know in the comments.