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Wesley Snipes made his debut in 1986 and quickly rose to prominence as a celebrated black actor in Hollywood. The 61-year-old actor had a diverse range of roles before embracing a superhero role in theBladetrilogy. The collaboration with Marvel proved mutually beneficial, boosting both the studio’s success and Snipes’ career.
However, it’s interesting to discover thatBladewasn’t Marvel’s first attempt to partner with theDemolition Manactor. Snipes’ initial refusal also could have had a significant impact on Marvel’s trajectory.
Also Read:“A Black man created the superhero world that we’re in”: Wesley Snipes Said Fans Mistreat Blade Despite $416M Contribution to the Superhero Genre
Wesley Snipes’Black PantherWas A Possibility In The Early 90s
During the early 1990s,Wesley Snipesalmost made aBlack Panthermovie. In 1992, when Marvel was grappling with financial struggles, they approached theKing of New Yorkactor to take on the role. Snipes had been riding a wave of consecutive successes at the time, with films likeNew Jack City,Jungle Fever, andWhite Men Can’t Jump. Snipes recounted:
“We didn’t have the technology we have now. Pixar didn’t exist. None of the things, the CGI capabilities that we have now existed, and you know, people… Even the thought of the name Black Panther in the zeitgeist of Hollywood had a reference to the national revolutionary group versus the comic book. So it was hard to make. Long story long, we didn’t end up making it, the rights went back, converted back, and then ‘Blade’ came along. [I] rocked with that.”
The Recallactor played a pivotal role in resurrecting Marvel from its struggling phase, portraying Eric Brooks / Blade in the trilogy that later contributed to Marvel’s $29B success. However, the fate of the now $2.19BBlack Panthermight have taken a different turn had theComing 2 Americaactor chosen to pursue the role.
Also Read:“I swore I’d never work with him again”: Ben Affleck’s Wife Jennifer Lopez was “Violated” by Wesley Snipes Who Pressured her into a Wild S-x Scene in $77M Film
Wesley Snipes Was Supportive Of The 2018Black PantherMovie
Although Wesley Snipes didn’t get the opportunity to makeBlack Pantheror join the MCU’s version, theGame of Deathactor endorsed the 2018 movie.The Detonatoractor commended directorRyan Coogler‘s efforts to create a culturally impactful movie. Snipes conveyed to The Hollywood Reporter:
“Even though I am not a part of this particular project, I support it 1,000 percent, and I am absolutely convinced that it will be a catalyst for change and open other doors and other opportunities. We need that kind of diversity and different flavor now.”
Interestingly, Wesley Snipes had gone through three drafts of theBlack Pantherscript. TheGallowwalkersactor’s commitment to the movie is evident, even though he struggled to find the right director. This dedication suggests Snipes invested significant effort into the project’s development.
Also Read:“Black Panther spoke to me”: Wesley Snipes’ Dream to Become King of Wakanda Was Rejected Before Chadwick Boseman’s MCU Run
However, given the context of the 1990s and the absence of the Avengers, the prospect ofBlack Pantherthriving as a standalone film was precarious.
Source:Collider
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3021
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
