{"id":2169405,"date":"2026-09-29T13:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T10:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2169405"},"modified":"2026-09-29T13:15:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T10:15:00","slug":"thats-a-movie-star-guillermo-del-toro-credits-wesley-snipes-for-100-of-blades-iconic-persona-after-marvel-studios-mahershala-ali-reboot-canceled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2169405","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;That\u2019s a Movie Star&#8217; \u2014 Guillermo del Toro Credits Wesley Snipes for &#8216;100%&#8217; of Blade&#8217;s Iconic Persona After Marvel Studios&#8217; Mahershala Ali Reboot Canceled"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-3246540067 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-2044616299 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In the newest episode of our IGN30 Icons Series, Blade 2 director Guillermo del Toro revealed why he believes Mahershala Ali\u2019s Blade movie never got off the ground \u2014 and it\u2019s not because of Kevin Feige.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">First announced in 2019, Marvel Studios\u2019 highly anticipated Blade reboot suffered numerous setbacks and was <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/blade-marvel-canceled\">ultimately canceled<\/a>. Despite training for years in multiple martial arts to the point where he literally blew out his knee, Mahershala Ali found himself so frustrated with the project that he completely washed his hands of the role and went on to use his newfound ass-kicking skills in <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/your-mother-your-mother-your-mother\">Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Marvel&#8217;s Blade Concept Art<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2277167929 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3027214138 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/RightChevron.272be43c.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-3524787213 jsx-4268464690 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2277167929 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 3 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2277167929 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Having directed <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/blade-ii\">Blade 2<\/a>, we asked del Toro why he thought this project fell through \u2014 and, for him, it\u2019s all about Wesley Snipes\u2019 unmistakable star power.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI&#8217;m telling you \u2014 and I mean it because I know it \u2014 50% of the \u2018Blade-ness\u2019 of Blade is Wesley Snipes. He is not the most linear actor to deal with, right? But every time he stood in front of the lens, I said, \u2018That\u2019s a movie star,\u2019\u201d he answered.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cFor example, I showed him a gun we designed \u2014 beautiful, [Dieter] Reinhardt, Ron Pearlman ends up using it, with a blade on the front \u2014 and he looked at it. \u2018Not for Blade. Cold gun, but not for Blade.\u2019 I said, \u2018Why?\u2019 He said, \u2018Because Blade is the weapon.\u2019 He said, \u2018I don&#8217;t want the toys. I want the man. The man is a dangerous guy. You give me too many toys, and that\u2019s the Batmobile and the Bat belt. That&#8217;s not Blade.\u2019 And I went, \u2018Ah, this guy knows it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2277167929 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Play.59e5540b.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While del Toro went on to joke that Snipes is actually &#8220;100%&#8221; of Blade\u2019s \u2018Blade-ness,\u2019 he said the other 50% of the equation comes out to \u201cthe filmmaker articulating,\u201d and described how he studied Stephen Norrington&#8217;s filmmaking style to bring his own unique flair to the IP for its second film.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI had four or five moving boxes worth of dailies from [Stephen Norrington&#8217;s] movie,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I studied all those VHS tapes. I understood exactly how he shot it. He did some formations that were really extraordinarily weird. For example, he had a low camera with a longer lens in front of a high camera with a wide lens facing each other. \u2026and then I started his formations and I said, \u2018Okay, I&#8217;m going to go at it differently.\u2019 <\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cBut there is one setup on Blade 2, which is 13 cameras working at the same time like a ballet. This camera is moving this way and then it crosses this one right on time for my cut. So I would cut before we shoot. So what they did is extraordinary. I know it.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2277167929 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Play.59e5540b.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">He also praised Norrington\u2019s first Blade film for helping to break the mold of comic book movies, crediting it for ushering in a new age of superhero flick that has continued into the modern day.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cEvery time [Snipes] landed, every time he turned, he\u2019s a Neil Adams comic book [character]. And he has the natural sort of comic book [look]. I think Blade 1, Steve\u2019s movie, changed the history of comic book movies for me, period. Because before that, you had either the cleanliness, the beauty, and sort of wholesomeness of Richard Donner&#8217;s Superman, or you had the quirkiness of Tim Burton\u2019s Batman. But this is what ushered the \u2018tude, the edge. Without Steve Norrington&#8217;s Blade, I don&#8217;t think there is The Matrix. I don&#8217;t think there is X-Men. I think what they did is monumental. And then I inherited and was completely, irresponsibly happy to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"poll-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<section class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\">\n<div class=\"card jsx-2310533475 jsx-1355461925 box poll-content-block\" data-cy=\"poll-content-block\">\n<fieldset class=\"answers jsx-332304107\" role=\"radiogroup\" aria-labelledby=\"poll-question\">\n<legend class=\"stack jsx-2624643483 jsx-4192417768\"><span class=\"stack jsx-3547261442\"><\/p>\n<h2 data-cy=\"poll-question\" class=\"title2 jsx-1903782357 jsx-1377259516 headline\" id=\"poll-question\">Should Wesley Snipes join the main MCU timeline as Blade?<\/h2>\n<p><\/span><\/legend>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer highlight\"><label class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId44730\" id=\"answerId44730-label\"><span class=\"label\">Oh yeah!<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1945348876\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId44731\" id=\"answerId44731-label\"><span class=\"label\">Hell no!<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId44732\" id=\"answerId44732-label\"><span class=\"label\">Yes, but we should also get Mahershala Ali&#8217;s version too.<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId44733\" id=\"answerId44733-label\"><span class=\"label\">Let&#8217;s talk it out in the comments.<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/fieldset>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2624643483 jsx-4255654680 poll-controls\"><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3027214138 jsx-2267841559 contained disabled full-width large\" type=\"submit\" disabled data-cy=\"poll-answer-btn\">Answer<\/button><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3027214138 jsx-1624977611 nav next-button small\" title=\"See Results\" aria-label=\"See Results\" data-cy=\"see-results-btn\"><span style=\"white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;text-align:right\">See Results<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" aria-label=\"See Results\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/RightChevron.272be43c.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In a funny anecdote, del Toro told us that he discovered Red Bull while filming Blade 2, which he affectionately dubbed his \u201ccocaine movie\u201d due to the fact that he was chugging \u201c40\u201d cans of the energy drink per day.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cActually, [Blade 2] and Pacific Rim are probably the two most fun movies I&#8217;ve ever shot. I really had fun. It may have been helped by the fact that Red Bull had just come out, and I didn&#8217;t know how to use it. So I was drinking, and I&#8217;m not joking, about 40 Red Bulls a day.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI was like in a cocaine movie. I was like, \u2018Come on, let&#8217;s go!\u2019 And I would order cases and cases of Red Bull and throw them to the extras. When I went back to America, Red Bull started traveling from Europe to there. And my doctor said, \u2018You cannot consume more than four.\u2019 I was drinking 40. The arterial damage, man!\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2277167929 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Play.59e5540b.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While Wesley Snipes was able to reprise his role as Blade in <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/deadpool-wolverine\">Deadpool &amp; Wolverine<\/a>, it\u2019s unlikely that he\u2019ll return to the part for a future Blade movie \u2014 if another one ever gets made in this lifetime, that is. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige famously admitted that he felt like a <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/marvel-studios-boss-kevin-feige-feels-like-a-gigantic-loser-and-failure-over-doomed-blade-reboot-with-mahershala-ali?_cache=pass\">\u201cgigantic loser and failure\u201d<\/a> for not getting Ali\u2019s Blade off the ground,\u201d a statement that Ali wholeheartedly agreed with in a subsequent interview.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cTo this day, I don\u2019t know why it didn\u2019t happen. I just know that Kevin said it was the biggest failure of his career, and I agree,\u201d he said. \u201c&#8230;<a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/mahershala-ali-agrees-that-kevin-feige-is-a-gigantic-loser-and-failure-over-failed-blade-reboot?_cache=pass\">he should feel that way.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Our full, extended interview with Guillermo del Toro is <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/videos\/guillermo-del-toro-on-blade-working-with-kojima-and-lots-of-red-bull-ign30-icons\">available to watch now<\/a>. If you&#8217;re hungry for more interviews, you can check out a previous episode of the IGN30 Icons Series, where we<a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/videos\/ken-levine-on-bioshock-judas-and-the-evolution-of-game-design-ign-30-icons\"> <u>chatted with Ken Levine<\/u><\/a>, creator of famed games like<a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1999\/08\/21\/system-shock-2-2\"> <u>System Shock 2<\/u><\/a> and its spiritual successor, Bioshock.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<section class=\"author-sign-off\" data-cy=\"author-sign-off\"><span class=\"stack jsx-59817748 jsx-1927875859\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-444076027 jsx-1730475047 profile-thumb jsx-2141281959 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-1-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Virginia Glaze Avatar\" class=\"progressive-image profile-thumb-img jsx-249361588 jsx-2338608387 expand\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/avatars\/6a3973ecf71dd1001d20de39\/XD1zX2FT-1782150223173.jpg?crop=1%3A1&amp;width=56&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2509706801 jsx-3630940851\"><span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-702910195 author-sign-off-header\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/person\/virginiaglaze\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-2809511915 bold underlined\">Virginia Glaze<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 muted\">News Editor<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2509706801 jsx-1220387432\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"author-sign-off-socials\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 author-sign-off-socials\"><button type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"listbox\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-label=\"View social links\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 socials-trigger\"><span title=\"X\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 social-icon-avatar\"><span class=\"ign-icon jsx-2877214176 jsx-2750866048 jsx-2788214270\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"jsx-2877214176\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Twitter.d0b97af5.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div role=\"listbox\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2758920045 jsx-4268464690 jsx-3705869475 dropdown-menu jsx-3625955085\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.twitter.com\/TheeMissGlaze\" id=\"author-sign-off-social-twitterHandle\" class=\"menu-item jsx-3565735818 jsx-3927327418\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 menu-item-text\" data-text=\"X\">X<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"ign-icon icon-twitter jsx-2750866048 jsx-3701596282\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-twitter\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Twitter.d0b97af5.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 sign-off-text\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Virginia (she\/her) is IGN\u2019s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she\u2019s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheeMissGlaze\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer\"><em>@TheeMissGlaze<\/em><\/a><em>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"jsx-2511205168 preferred-source\"><strong class=\"jsx-2511205168\">Get IGN&#8217;s Biggest Stories FIRST. Set Us as Your Source.<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.ign.com\" class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--secondary jsx-3027214138 icon-button contained centered large\" title=\"Add Source\" aria-label=\"Add Source\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ign-icon icon-google jsx-2750866048 jsx-3701596282\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-google\" alt=\"Google\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Google.9e99a9d7.svg?cors=0\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 large\">Add Source<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In the newest episode of our IGN30 Icons Series, Blade 2 director Guillermo del Toro revealed why he believes Mahershala Ali\u2019s Blade movie never got off the ground \u2014 and it\u2019s not because of Kevin Feige.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">First announced in 2019, Marvel Studios\u2019 highly anticipated Blade reboot suffered numerous setbacks and was <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/blade-marvel-canceled\">ultimately canceled<\/a>. Despite training for years in multiple martial arts to the point where he literally blew out his knee, Mahershala Ali found himself so frustrated with the project that he completely washed his hands of the role and went on to use his newfound ass-kicking skills in <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/your-mother-your-mother-your-mother\">Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Marvel&#8217;s Blade Concept Art<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2277167929 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3027214138 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/RightChevron.272be43c.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-3524787213 jsx-4268464690 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2277167929 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 3 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2277167929 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Having directed <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/blade-ii\">Blade 2<\/a>, we asked del Toro why he thought this project fell through \u2014 and, for him, it\u2019s all about Wesley Snipes\u2019 unmistakable star power.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI&#8217;m telling you \u2014 and I mean it because I know it \u2014 50% of the \u2018Blade-ness\u2019 of Blade is Wesley Snipes. He is not the most linear actor to deal with, right? But every time he stood in front of the lens, I said, \u2018That\u2019s a movie star,\u2019\u201d he answered.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cFor example, I showed him a gun we designed \u2014 beautiful, [Dieter] Reinhardt, Ron Pearlman ends up using it, with a blade on the front \u2014 and he looked at it. \u2018Not for Blade. Cold gun, but not for Blade.\u2019 I said, \u2018Why?\u2019 He said, \u2018Because Blade is the weapon.\u2019 He said, \u2018I don&#8217;t want the toys. I want the man. The man is a dangerous guy. You give me too many toys, and that\u2019s the Batmobile and the Bat belt. That&#8217;s not Blade.\u2019 And I went, \u2018Ah, this guy knows it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2277167929 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Play.59e5540b.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While del Toro went on to joke that Snipes is actually &#8220;100%&#8221; of Blade\u2019s \u2018Blade-ness,\u2019 he said the other 50% of the equation comes out to \u201cthe filmmaker articulating,\u201d and described how he studied Stephen Norrington&#8217;s filmmaking style to bring his own unique flair to the IP for its second film.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI had four or five moving boxes worth of dailies from [Stephen Norrington&#8217;s] movie,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I studied all those VHS tapes. I understood exactly how he shot it. He did some formations that were really extraordinarily weird. For example, he had a low camera with a longer lens in front of a high camera with a wide lens facing each other. \u2026and then I started his formations and I said, \u2018Okay, I&#8217;m going to go at it differently.\u2019 <\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cBut there is one setup on Blade 2, which is 13 cameras working at the same time like a ballet. This camera is moving this way and then it crosses this one right on time for my cut. So I would cut before we shoot. So what they did is extraordinary. I know it.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2277167929 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Play.59e5540b.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">He also praised Norrington\u2019s first Blade film for helping to break the mold of comic book movies, crediting it for ushering in a new age of superhero flick that has continued into the modern day.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cEvery time [Snipes] landed, every time he turned, he\u2019s a Neil Adams comic book [character]. And he has the natural sort of comic book [look]. I think Blade 1, Steve\u2019s movie, changed the history of comic book movies for me, period. Because before that, you had either the cleanliness, the beauty, and sort of wholesomeness of Richard Donner&#8217;s Superman, or you had the quirkiness of Tim Burton\u2019s Batman. But this is what ushered the \u2018tude, the edge. Without Steve Norrington&#8217;s Blade, I don&#8217;t think there is The Matrix. I don&#8217;t think there is X-Men. I think what they did is monumental. And then I inherited and was completely, irresponsibly happy to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"poll-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<section class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\">\n<div class=\"card jsx-2310533475 jsx-1355461925 box poll-content-block\" data-cy=\"poll-content-block\">\n<fieldset class=\"answers jsx-332304107\" role=\"radiogroup\" aria-labelledby=\"poll-question\">\n<legend class=\"stack jsx-2624643483 jsx-4192417768\"><span class=\"stack jsx-3547261442\"><\/p>\n<h2 data-cy=\"poll-question\" class=\"title2 jsx-1903782357 jsx-1377259516 headline\" id=\"poll-question\">Should Wesley Snipes join the main MCU timeline as Blade?<\/h2>\n<p><\/span><\/legend>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer highlight\"><label class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId44730\" id=\"answerId44730-label\"><span class=\"label\">Oh yeah!<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1945348876\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId44731\" id=\"answerId44731-label\"><span class=\"label\">Hell no!<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId44732\" id=\"answerId44732-label\"><span class=\"label\">Yes, but we should also get Mahershala Ali&#8217;s version too.<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId44733\" id=\"answerId44733-label\"><span class=\"label\">Let&#8217;s talk it out in the comments.<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/fieldset>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2624643483 jsx-4255654680 poll-controls\"><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3027214138 jsx-2267841559 contained disabled full-width large\" type=\"submit\" disabled data-cy=\"poll-answer-btn\">Answer<\/button><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3027214138 jsx-1624977611 nav next-button small\" title=\"See Results\" aria-label=\"See Results\" data-cy=\"see-results-btn\"><span style=\"white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;text-align:right\">See Results<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" aria-label=\"See Results\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/RightChevron.272be43c.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In a funny anecdote, del Toro told us that he discovered Red Bull while filming Blade 2, which he affectionately dubbed his \u201ccocaine movie\u201d due to the fact that he was chugging \u201c40\u201d cans of the energy drink per day.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cActually, [Blade 2] and Pacific Rim are probably the two most fun movies I&#8217;ve ever shot. I really had fun. It may have been helped by the fact that Red Bull had just come out, and I didn&#8217;t know how to use it. So I was drinking, and I&#8217;m not joking, about 40 Red Bulls a day.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI was like in a cocaine movie. I was like, \u2018Come on, let&#8217;s go!\u2019 And I would order cases and cases of Red Bull and throw them to the extras. When I went back to America, Red Bull started traveling from Europe to there. And my doctor said, \u2018You cannot consume more than four.\u2019 I was drinking 40. The arterial damage, man!\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2277167929 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Play.59e5540b.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While Wesley Snipes was able to reprise his role as Blade in <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/deadpool-wolverine\">Deadpool &amp; Wolverine<\/a>, it\u2019s unlikely that he\u2019ll return to the part for a future Blade movie \u2014 if another one ever gets made in this lifetime, that is. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige famously admitted that he felt like a <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/marvel-studios-boss-kevin-feige-feels-like-a-gigantic-loser-and-failure-over-doomed-blade-reboot-with-mahershala-ali?_cache=pass\">\u201cgigantic loser and failure\u201d<\/a> for not getting Ali\u2019s Blade off the ground,\u201d a statement that Ali wholeheartedly agreed with in a subsequent interview.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cTo this day, I don\u2019t know why it didn\u2019t happen. I just know that Kevin said it was the biggest failure of his career, and I agree,\u201d he said. \u201c&#8230;<a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/mahershala-ali-agrees-that-kevin-feige-is-a-gigantic-loser-and-failure-over-failed-blade-reboot?_cache=pass\">he should feel that way.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Our full, extended interview with Guillermo del Toro is <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/videos\/guillermo-del-toro-on-blade-working-with-kojima-and-lots-of-red-bull-ign30-icons\">available to watch now<\/a>. If you&#8217;re hungry for more interviews, you can check out a previous episode of the IGN30 Icons Series, where we<a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/videos\/ken-levine-on-bioshock-judas-and-the-evolution-of-game-design-ign-30-icons\"> <u>chatted with Ken Levine<\/u><\/a>, creator of famed games like<a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1999\/08\/21\/system-shock-2-2\"> <u>System Shock 2<\/u><\/a> and its spiritual successor, Bioshock.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<section class=\"author-sign-off\" data-cy=\"author-sign-off\"><span class=\"stack jsx-59817748 jsx-1927875859\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-444076027 jsx-1730475047 profile-thumb jsx-2141281959 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-1-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Virginia Glaze Avatar\" class=\"progressive-image profile-thumb-img jsx-249361588 jsx-2338608387 expand\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/avatars\/6a3973ecf71dd1001d20de39\/XD1zX2FT-1782150223173.jpg?crop=1%3A1&amp;width=56&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2509706801 jsx-3630940851\"><span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-702910195 author-sign-off-header\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/person\/virginiaglaze\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-2809511915 bold underlined\">Virginia Glaze<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 muted\">News Editor<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2509706801 jsx-1220387432\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"author-sign-off-socials\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 author-sign-off-socials\"><button type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"listbox\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-label=\"View social links\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 socials-trigger\"><span title=\"X\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 social-icon-avatar\"><span class=\"ign-icon jsx-2877214176 jsx-2750866048 jsx-2788214270\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"jsx-2877214176\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Twitter.d0b97af5.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div role=\"listbox\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2758920045 jsx-4268464690 jsx-3705869475 dropdown-menu jsx-3625955085\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.twitter.com\/TheeMissGlaze\" id=\"author-sign-off-social-twitterHandle\" class=\"menu-item jsx-3565735818 jsx-3927327418\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 menu-item-text\" data-text=\"X\">X<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"ign-icon icon-twitter jsx-2750866048 jsx-3701596282\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-twitter\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Twitter.d0b97af5.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 sign-off-text\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Virginia (she\/her) is IGN\u2019s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she\u2019s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheeMissGlaze\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer\"><em>@TheeMissGlaze<\/em><\/a><em>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/section>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the newest episode of our IGN30 Icons Series, Blade 2 director Guillermo del Toro revealed why he believes Mahershala Ali\u2019s Blade movie never got off the ground \u2014 and it\u2019s not because of Kevin Feige. First announced in 2019, Marvel Studios\u2019 highly anticipated Blade reboot suffered numerous setbacks and was ultimately canceled. Despite training [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-2169405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2169405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2169405"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2169405\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2169405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2169405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2169405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}