The average moviegoer probably didn’t know it at the time, but Blade was one of the first Marvel characters to headline a hit film. And while Marvel’s upcoming reboot will almost certainly enhance the vampire hunter’s lies to the larger MCU, fans still have a lot of love for the original Blade trilogy starring Wesley Snipes. Ever since Mahershala Ali was announced as the new Daywalker in 2019, Snipes has had nothing but good things to say about his successor. But it turns out he even gave Ali some tips for taking on the role.
Snipes was asked about the new Blade film during a recent interview with Yahoo. Aside from praising Ali’s casting, he once again assured fans that there isn’t any animosity between them.
“We spoke,” confirmed Snipes. “The issue of him being cast wasn’t between us, I’m cool with that. I don’t walk around as Blade, so I’m not attached to the character like that. I feel no emotional loss, zero, and I’m happy that he’s being recast and will more than likely do a great job.”
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Additionally, Snipes revealed the key bit of advice he gave Ali ahead of the reboot’s grueling stuntwork.
“Make sure you’re in shape, man,” said Snipes. “Make sure you’re in shape. Try not to get hurt, that’s a biggie. The demands of an action movie is you’ve gotta be an elite athlete. And being well-conditioned to survive and to avoid injury. And enjoy it while it lasts.”
There are spoilers ahead for Eternals! Stop reading now if you haven’t seen the film yet.
Fans recently got their first taste of Ali’s Blade in a post-credits scene from Eternals. The scene only featured Ali’s voice, but it hinted that his character will play a major role in Phase Five. In the meantime, Bassam Tariq has been hired to direct the Blade reboot, with Stacy Osei-Kuffour writing the script. Marvel hasn’t set a release date for the film.
What do you think of Snipes’ advice for Ali? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Blade by Marc Guggenheim: The Complete Collection
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