In a recent interview for IGN's 30 Icons Series, director Guillermo del Toro discussed the enduring appeal of Blade and offered his perspective on why Marvel Studios' planned reboot starring Mahershala Ali faced numerous setbacks and was ultimately canceled. Del Toro, who directed Blade II, emphasized the significant contribution of actor Wesley Snipes to the character's persona.
"I'm telling you — and I mean it because I know it — 50% of the ‘Blade-ness’ of Blade is Wesley Snipes," del Toro stated. "He is not the most linear actor to deal with, right? But every time he stood in front of the lens, I said, ‘That’s a movie star.’"
Del Toro recalled an anecdote where Snipes rejected a prop weapon, asserting that Blade himself was the true weapon and that excessive "toys" would detract from the character's dangerous essence. "Because Blade is the weapon. I don't want the toys. I want the man. The man is a dangerous guy. You give me too many toys, and that's the Batmobile and the Bat belt. That's not Blade," Snipes reportedly told the director. Del Toro acknowledged this insight, jokingly suggesting Snipes was "100%" of Blade's 'Blade-ness,' with the remaining 50% attributed to the filmmaker's execution.
Del Toro also praised the original Blade film, directed by Stephen Norrington, for changing the landscape of comic book movies. He suggested that Blade's gritty, edgy tone paved the way for subsequent influential films like The Matrix and X-Men. "I think Blade 1, Steve’s movie, changed the history of comic book movies for me, period," del Toro remarked. "Because before that, you had either the cleanliness, the beauty, and sort of wholesomeness of Richard Donner's Superman, or you had the quirkiness of Tim Burton’s Batman. But this is what ushered the ‘tude, the edge."
Reflecting on his own experience directing Blade II, del Toro humorously described it as his "cocaine movie" due to his heavy consumption of Red Bull, estimating he drank around 40 cans per day during filming. He fondly recalled the production as one of the most enjoyable he has experienced, alongside Pacific Rim.
While Wesley Snipes recently made an appearance as Blade in Deadpool & Wolverine, the prospect of a new standalone Blade film remains uncertain. Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has previously expressed his disappointment over the stalled Mahershala Ali reboot, calling it a "gigantic loser and failure," sentiments that Ali has echoed.