How Ryan Reynolds’ First (Mostly Forgotten) Marvel Role Led to Deadpool

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David S. Goyer’s film “Blade: Trinity” marked the end of Wesley Snipes’ tenure in Marvel’s vampire-slaying movie trilogy, boasting a diverse and impressive ensemble that could well be the most unique (and strong) cast across the entire dark superhero franchise.

Apart from starring Snipes as Blade alongside the late Kris Kristofferson portraying Abraham Whistler, the character mentor/weapons instructor, Blade: Trinity (airing this month on SYFY — check out the schedule here!) boasted an incredibly cool cast of modern and upcoming big names. The lineup included Jessica Biel as Abraham’s daughter Abigail; Parker Posey as villainous vampire Danica Talos; Natasha Lyonne as weapons expert Somerfield; Dominic Purcell as original vampire Drake; and wrestling legend Triple H as Danica’s massive bodyguard.

For More on Blade

Twenty-five years after its release, Blade Still Holds Up as an Effective Film, Especially Compared to Its Sequels and Contemporaries.
Blade II is One of the Most Terrifying Horror Movie Sequels Ever Produced
For Fifteen Days Straight, Everything Else Pales in Comparison to Blade

Blast from the past: How Ryan Reynolds went from Blade: Trinity to Deadpool

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In the movie “Blade: Trinity,” Ryan Reynolds, an actor whose fame in the early 2000s was rapidly growing both within the Marvel comic book movie universe and Hollywood overall, made an appearance. Armed with dual pistols and his trademark comedic wit, Reynolds portrayed Hannibal King. This character was known for his quick-witted humor, had roots in the comics, and was a former vampire. He joined Blade’s team, the Nightstalkers, to assist in defeating Drake and Danica, demonstrating his readiness as a team player.

Today, it’s apparent that Ryan Reynolds brought his witty and unconventional allure to the character in “Blade: Trinity.” These very qualities, which would later become his ticket to a Marvel franchise, were instrumental in setting new box office records for R-rated comic book comedies with “Deadpool” (2016).

Despite a twelve-year gap between his role in “Blade: Trinity” and “Deadpool,” Ryan Reynolds’ portrayal of Hannibal King in the former laid the groundwork for his starring role in the latter. In an interview with Empire magazine (as reported by Comicbook) during the release of “Deadpool” in 2016, Reynolds revealed that a studio executive had given him Deadpool comics on the set of “Blade: Trinity” and encouraged him to consider playing the character in the future.

Reflecting on my experience in Blade: Trinity, I realized that I was already embodying a similar level of chaos in my character. It occurred to me then, as if it were destiny, that perhaps I should bring this character to life for real. That’s what I recall from our conversation.

He mentioned that he thoroughly examined the comics and discovered that this particular character holds an unique position within the comic book world that no one else does. There are instances where we delve deep into a grim, dark realm for a while, but it also has a light-hearted, humorous aspect. This allows us to explore places and do things with this character that wouldn’t be possible with any other superhero franchise.

Absolutely, Reynolds’ Deadpool intuition was spot-on. The brash and unrefined franchise not only shattered the record for highest grossing R-rated superhero films; it also creatively acknowledged its characters’ previous cinematic appearances. In true Deadpool style, Reynolds and director Shawn Levy delighted fans by breaking the fourth wall in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), inviting Wesley Snipes back to reprise his character Eric Brooks (Blade) in a thrilling cameo, reviving his former vampire-hunting role.

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2025-07-18 20:46