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- Blade Was a Hit in 1998
- Who Exactly Is Blade, and Why Does He Matter in the Marvel Canon?
- The Misfit Blade Idea No One Wanted
- New Line Cinema Basically Wanted Blade to Be Deadpool
As I delve into the captivating tale of Wesley Snipes’ iconic portrayal of Blade, it reminds me of a phoenix rising from the ashes – not just because of the character’s own backstory but also due to the sheer determination and resilience shown by our leading man.
Back in 1998, I was hoping for a gritty, dark vampire movie with Wesley Snipes as Blade. But if New Line Cinema had their way, we would have gotten a white Blade in a cowboy hat cracking jokes instead. It’s a lesson from Hollywood history about the risks of studio meddling. Even the producers of this film couldn’t resist falling back on some tired tropes.
As a “Marvel movie meets hip-hop,” the creators of Blade had to work hard to maintain the film’s authenticity and strike the perfect balance. This was one instance where everything fell into place, making the end result well worth the anticipation, awkward elevator pitches, and setbacks. Regrettably, the CGI from that time hasn’t aged as gracefully.
Blade Was a Hit in 1998
Originating from a Marvel comic penned by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan in 1973, the character initially appeared on comic book shelves during the same period as Blacula and Morbius, the Marvel vampire character. It wasn’t until the 90s that Blade gradually gained prominence, eventually bursting into mainstream popularity when the MCU was still a dream and its influence on popular culture minimal.
At this point, Marvel was struggling financially to such an extent that they were giving away film rights for a small sum. Initially seen as a mere trick in the comics during the ’70s, Blade had gradually won over readers’ hearts but hadn’t yet demonstrated the commercial potential of less well-known comic characters. However, this was about to change. “Widespread vampire violence,” as cautioned by censors to parents, had never looked so appealing.
After numerous unsuccessful attempts spanning over ten years, the film finally debuted in 1998, offering a gritty and captivating portrayal of one of Marvel’s less popular heroes, leaning more towards anti-hero status. At the time, Wesley Snipes was at the pinnacle of his fame and physical fitness, making him an ideal choice for The Daywalker. Although Denzel Washington and his personal trainer were also considered, it wasn’t immediately apparent who should play the role back then, especially to New Line Cinema executives. They preferred a safer, less edgy approach. Fortunately, their suggestions fell on deaf ears.
Who Exactly Is Blade, and Why Does He Matter in the Marvel Canon?
If you’re unfamiliar with him, it’s alright, as it seemed even Hollywood didn’t recognize him in 1998. Contrary to assumptions that the film was merely capitalizing on the celebrity or market value of his name, that’s far from the truth. Initially, he was penned as a temporary adversary for none other than Count Dracula. The movie trilogy came to fruition through a mutual desire by writer David S. Goyer and Snipes to introduce a unique type of hero. In fact, Goyer conceived the project out of frustration, feeling disillusioned that the dark Batman series had turned into an unfunny farce.
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According to actor Stephen Dorff, there seems to be a hint of “The Lost Boys” character hidden within it. The villain Deacon Frost from the movie is depicted in concept art with bodies encased in plastic bags, suggesting an antagonist who is not only morally questionable but also coldly practical and devoid of empathy.
1. In the comic books, the character Eric Brooks, also known as Blade, fights for justice against wicked vampires lurking beneath society, feasting on humanity. In the movie, a circle of influential vampires manipulates the police to cover up their existence, weaving a complex web of secrets that shrouds the world in a global mystery, a common theme from the ’90s, even though it’s not heavily explored here. When speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Goyer stated that the film revolves around “the racial tension between pureblood and turned vampires.” The challenge was to find the perfect gruff-voiced actor to embody Blade, especially since he had to carry the entire film, both physically and symbolically.
The Misfit Blade Idea No One Wanted
Initially, screenwriter Goyer presented his initial script to Michael De Luca, the President of Production at New Line Cinema. The draft quickly piqued De Luca’s interest, even before the writer/director made a name for himself in the superhero genre. Prior to this, numerous individuals had struggled for years to pitch a movie, as both Roger Corman’s New World Pictures and New Line Cinema grappled with deciding on the vampire vigilante concept. David Fincher (before his success with Se7en) displayed some interest in the script but eventually grew disillusioned following extensive research. Eventually, British director Stephen Norrington was chosen to oversee the production, a little-known figure who had previously made an action film on a shoestring budget. Evidently, New Line held minimal expectations for the movie.
In consideration for the main role, names like L.L. Cool J., Laurence Fishburne, and Denzel Washington were suggested, but none matched the physicality or action skills possessed by Wesley Snipes. Eventually, Stephen Dorff was cast as Frost, a witty, yuppie vampire club kid who contrasts with the serious character of Blade. This half-vampire character seeks to disrupt the peace between the nocturnal beings (vampires) and humans. Producer Peter Frankfurt embraced the challenging, multi-genre script that evolved into an action movie amalgamation featuring A-list stars, intricate choreography, and special effects. However, as the budget ballooned beyond control, the room for error diminished significantly.
“We continually incorporated scenes such as the blood club, intense action sequences, which gave our production a unique twist. Upon submission, it was unlike any other superhero film; it blends aspects of kung fu, vampire genres, defying conventional categorization. The downside is, it’s quite costly to produce.”
Initially aiming for a decade, Snipes sought the role of Black Panther at Columbia University. However, due to unknown factors, that project didn’t come to fruition. Instead, he looked towards Blade as an alternative avenue to penetrate the white superhero genre, recognizing it as a promising platform to display his martial arts skills. Additionally, Luke Cage was suggested as another potential character for adaptation. At that time, roles for black superheroes were scarce. While _Spawn_ had been released in theaters when production began, the other properties would have to wait approximately 20 years before being adapted.
New Line Cinema Basically Wanted Blade to Be Deadpool
The rights for the project were acquired by New Line Cinema, a studio known for producing edgy, R-rated horror films. However, there was a disagreement about the ethnicity of the main character, Blade. Originally conceived as a Black man, New Line Cinema wanted to cast a white actor instead, as mentioned by writer-producer David S. Goyer. But eventually, common sense prevailed and it was decided that the casting would remain faithful to the original concept. Wesley Snipes grasped the character immediately and delivered a performance that drew upon his portrayal of a morally ambiguous character in “New Jack City,” as he explained in an interview with “Cinefantastique Magazine” prior to the film’s release.
In this project, we have a wide range of possibilities due to its flexible nature. Moreover, having spent much time portraying law enforcement and virtuous roles, I sought a more daring opportunity. This role fit perfectly as it offers a character who is both good and bad, bad yet essentially good, and misunderstood, with an unusual bio-chemical imbalance in his personality.
In addition to other proposed changes, there were plans to transform the movie into a comedic superhero spoof, set against the backdrop of a small rural town. Fortunately, these ideas were turned down. The ’90s had a grittier side, and viewers weren’t interested in laughing at meta-humor or witty self-references. Instead, they craved raw action, featuring a tough guy in leather pants delivering blows to faces, all while techno played in the grimy urban wasteland that served as the setting for this dystopian world.
In a fortunate turn of events, some catastrophic mistakes were luckily avoided, such as the abandoned ending where Stephen Dorff transformed into a CGI blood storm. Test viewers found it absurd (a rarity for them to be so accurate), necessitating reshoots. Despite being financially successful, subsequent installments varied in quality… let’s avoid discussing those to maintain a positive tone here. The final chapter of the trilogy is detested by fans as much as the cast and crew themselves, so we’ll focus on the original for this discussion. You can rent Blade (1998) on Prime Video and Apple TV.
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2024-08-06 04:02