Wesley Snipes Overtakes Hugh Jackman’s Marvel Record in Deadpool & Wolverine
Hugh Jackman’s reign as Marvel’s longest-serving star has ended, thanks to Wesley Snipes’ surprise return in Deadpool & Wolverine. Jackman’s witty response adds a playful twist to their on-screen rivalry.
For a quarter of a century, Hugh Jackman has been synonymous with the clawed mutant, having first donned the role in the late 1990s. After what was billed as his swansong in Logan back in 2019, he’s now returned for another outing. Yet, in the latest Deadpool & Wolverine, Jackman found himself wishing he’d left one particular cast member off the call sheet—though not for reasons you might expect.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe, which kicked off in 2008, has a habit of reinventing familiar faces. As the franchise delved into its multiverse phase, the door opened for a few unexpected comebacks. Audiences had already seen the likes of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield swing back into action, joined by a handful of their old adversaries. Deadpool & Wolverine, however, upped the ante, reintroducing not just Jennifer Garner as Elektra and Dafne Keene as X-23, but also Wesley Snipes, reprising his role as the original Blade.
Records, Rivalries, and a Bit of Banter
Snipes’ return as the Daywalker had an unintended consequence for Jackman. Having first appeared as Blade in 1998, Snipes now claims the Guinness World Record for the longest tenure as a Marvel character, nudging Jackman off the top spot. Jackman, never one to miss a chance for a quip, remarked:
"If I had known, I would have banned him [from Deadpool & Wolverine]. Now it's just a competition of who’s going to live longer. Actually, I’ll put my money on Wesley."
It’s not the first time the record’s changed hands. When Maguire and Willem Dafoe returned for Spider-Man: No Way Home, they briefly held the title. Patrick Stewart’s cameo as Charles Xavier in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw him take the crown, only for Jackman to reclaim it—until Snipes’ unexpected appearance rendered the whole contest moot.
Blade’s Future: Uncertainty and a Hint of Nostalgia
Marvel Studios has spent the better part of six years attempting to relaunch Blade, with Mahershala Ali waiting in the wings as the new lead. The project has been plagued by creative setbacks, with directors and writers coming and going, unable to settle on a direction for the vampire hunter’s next chapter. Snipes’ cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, complete with the line, "There is only one Blade, and there will only ever be one Blade," was a cheeky nod to the ongoing saga behind the scenes.
Recent reports suggest Marvel has now shelved plans for a standalone Blade film, opting instead to introduce the character in a Midnight Suns ensemble. This supernatural team-up is said to feature the likes of Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing, and Doctor Strange, all joining forces. There’s even talk that Snipes might be invited back for one last hurrah in Avengers: Secret Wars, though with that film not due until December 2027, fans will have to wait to see if the rumour holds any weight.