Hugh Jackman, known for his long-standing portrayal of Wolverine, recently made light of losing his potential record for the longest career as a live-action Marvel character due to Wesley Snipes’ return in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor, best recognized for his Hugh Jackman Wolverine MCU debut in “Deadpool & Wolverine” in 2024, now finds himself one-upped by Snipes, whose original Blade appearance predates Jackman’s Wolverine.
Jackman’s Unexpected Comeback and Snipes’ Record
Jackman first stepped into the shoes of Wolverine in the 2000 release of “X-Men.” After what appeared to be a final farewell in “Logan” after 17 years, audiences were astonished when Jackman reprised the role for his MCU debut in “Deadpool & Wolverine” in 2024. Despite the impressive run, Jackman did not enter the record books for longevity in a Marvel live-action role, as Wesley Snipes’ return as Blade in the same film solidified Snipes’ place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Wesley Snipes kicked off his portrayal of Blade, also known as the Daywalker, in 1998, edging out Jackman’s debut by two years. With Marvel’s next pair of Avengers films looming, there is speculation that the record could shift again in the coming years. The dynamic between Jackman and Snipes has become increasingly playful in media coverage, especially after a recent Jackman interview where he responded to the news with humor:
“If I had known, I would have banned him [from Deadpool & Wolverine].”
— Hugh Jackman, Actor
Jackman continued to joke about the rivalry, adding,
“Now it’s just a competition of who’s going to live longer. Actually, I’ll put my money on Wesley.”
Snipes’ Return as Blade and the Impact on Marvel Fans
Snipes’ reappearance as Blade comes amid a renewed interest in his character, buoyed by both longstanding fans and a fresh Marvel audience. Old reports of conflicts between Snipes and co-star Ryan Reynolds during the filming of 2004’s “Blade: Trinity” have evidently been put to rest, as the two have since reconciled.
Snipes recently spoke about his surprise at being asked back to the Marvel fold after more than two decades:
“I did not think it was possible. I didn’t think we would be able to pull it off. I didn’t think that Marvel was into it, Disney was into it — also because they had Mahershala [Ali] cast for the next upcoming version of it…I thought it didn’t make sense to me, but [when] you get a call from Ryan Reynolds out of the blue after 20 years, you go, ‘OK, I got to take this call. Let’s see what this is about.’ He told me the idea…They said ‘yes’ and ‘it’s a go.’ ‘If you’re in, we’re in.’ Here we are.”
— Wesley Snipes, Actor
This openness to seeing old heroes return has resonated strongly with viewers, who welcomed Snipes back as the Daywalker. Industry sources, such as Daniel Richtman, have even indicated that Snipes may return again as Blade in future Marvel projects like “Avengers: Secret Wars.” This could mean audiences have not seen the end of his iconic vampire-hunting persona. Meanwhile, Mahershala Ali’s highly anticipated Blade project for Marvel Studios remains in early development, with no recent progress reported.
A New Era for Marvel’s Cinematic Universe
The 2024 film “Deadpool & Wolverine” has left a major mark, drawing praise for its unique pairing of Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, and introducing a wide cast including Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Matthew Macfadyen, Chris Evans, Dafne Keen, Channing Tatum, Jennifer Garner, and Wesley Snipes. Fans also catch a brief appearance by Henry Cavill. The film, directed by Shawn Levy, has been described in reviews as:
“A contender for the best superhero movie ever, Deadpool & Wolverine is two hours of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman proving they were born to play these roles and, crucially, be part of the MCU. It’s a f***ing masterpiece.”
“Deadpool & Wolverine” is now accessible to audiences on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and through Disney+. As the MCU continues to evolve, characters like Wolverine and Blade, embodied by Jackman and Snipes, hold a unique place in connecting Marvel’s history with its future. With future Avengers installments on the horizon and rumors of further comebacks, both actors are likely to remain central figures in Marvel’s ongoing cinematic saga.
LMAO. At least he's not in Doomsday but he will be in Secret Wars 😭 https://t.co/WeVxcFF6XE
— Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK) January 11, 2026
