Marvel’s Forgotten Blade Series Proves Wesley Snipes’ Deadpool 3 Line Wrong

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Marvel's Forgotten Blade Series Proves Wesley Snipes' Deadpool 3 Line Wrong

As a gamer with a soft spot for superhero lore, I’ve been around the block a few times when it comes to the Blade franchise. While Wesley Snipes undoubtedly made his mark as the Daywalker, I must admit that I found Sticky Fingaz’s portrayal in “Blade: The Series” quite intriguing.

While Wesley Snipes hinted in his “Deadpool & Wolverine” cameo that he’s the sole Blade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this isn’t entirely correct. There is indeed another version of Blade existing beyond our multiverse. This little revelation by Blade, followed by Deadpool’s knowing glance at the camera, takes on a new meaning, doesn’t it?

In the year 2006, Spike TV broadcast a television series called “Blade: The Series.” This show continues the story of Blade from where “Blade: Trinity” ended, which coincidentally also featured Ryan Reynolds. Interestingly, the character of Blade was played by rapper Sticky Fingaz. Although this casting places him as another form of the vampire, it still belongs to the same continuity as all three films starring Wesley Snipes. The series introduces new characters into Blade’s world, such as Krista Starr (Jill Wagner), a soldier seeking revenge for her twin brother’s death at the hands of Marcus van Sciver (Neil Jackson). Over time, Krista becomes an apprentice to Blade and learns about the serum that prevents him from turning into a full-blooded vampire. While working for Blade, Krista manages to gain Marcus’ trust and uncovers the upcoming inter-clan war in the underground.

It seems intriguing, yet Spike’s adaptation of “Blade” ran just one season. There might be a significant explanation behind its short run.

Blade: The Series loses some oomph without Wesley Snipes

Initially, “Blade: The Series” aired with impressive ratings, attracting approximately 2.5 million viewers in its debut. This made it Spike TV’s most-watched original series at the time. Despite excellent performances and considerable effort, the series was sadly canceled after only one season. Although it maintained a decent audience, it failed to retain its initial viewership numbers, as reported by IGN. Consequently, the show left its dedicated fanbase hanging, as it never resolved the cliffhanger it had introduced.

The critical reception for this show was diverse; it currently has a 50% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes among 18 reviewers. Many of these critics seemed to overlook Wesley Snipes’ portrayal of Blade, and found little positive to say about the budget constraints. However, they did commend the show’s impressive stuntwork.

Despite its brief run, “Blade: The Series” undeniably made a mark on viewers. If you’re intrigued enough to sink your teeth into the action, you can purchase the entire first season via Apple TV+ for just $1.99 per episode. Consider it a warm-up for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Blade, should the creators manage to resolve their production disagreements with Marvel and bring the new “Blade” movie to theaters.

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2024-08-09 03:59