As a child of the 90s, I remember the sheer excitement when “Blade” graced our screens in 1998. It was more than just a movie; it was a revolution in superhero cinema. The darker tone, the R rating, and a Black protagonist were groundbreaking at the time, paving the way for what we now know as the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In a thrilling twist, the climactic scenes of Marvel’s pioneering vampire slayer movie “Blade” (1998) almost extended into a daring collaboration with another Marvel bloodsucker character. The original script for this film, which played a significant role in solidifying Marvel’s reputation in Hollywood before the Marvel Cinematic Universe was formed, originally included an after-credits scene introducing Morbius, the Living Vampire.
The Lost Ending That Could Have Changed Everything
In my humble opinion as a movie critic, the climactic scene in the big-screen debut of Blade finds Wesley Snipes’ Daywalker standing defiantly on a rooftop with Karen Jensen. She extends an olive branch, proposing a cure for his vampiric existence. However, our hero, Blade, spurns this offer, clinging to his supernatural abilities in order to relentlessly pursue the night’s terrors. Instead, he requests from Karen a more potent concoction to master his ravenous bloodlust – an unavoidable burden borne by his half-vampire status. This pivotal moment lays the groundwork for Blade’s persistent internal battle with his dual identity, a conflict that would persistently echo throughout the entire Blade trilogy.
Instead of saying that, Stephen Norrington directed an extra scene featuring Morbius, the Living Vampire, here’s another way to put it: Stephen Norrington filmed a scene where he played Morbius, sneakily watching Blade from a building as Blade conversed with Karen. This cut scene wasn’t just a brief appearance; it hinted at future events.
From the expansive universe of Marvel Comics’ vampire lore, Morbius and Blade possess a tangled dynamic, frequently clashing yet unwillingly collaborating. Introducing Morbius at the tail end of the Blade film would have unleashed a plethora of narrative opportunities, possibly igniting a rivalry between two characters haunted by similar afflictions, yet managing their conditions in starkly contrasting manners.
Changing the original plan to exclude that particular scene significantly shifted the course of the franchise, resulting in sequels delving into various vampire lore themes rather than a potential face-off between Blade and Morbius. Even though Blade II introduced the Reapers and Blade: Trinity brought Dracula into the picture, the missed chance for a Blade-Morbius showdown remains one of the most captivating “what if” instances in superhero movie history.
Blade’s Impact on Hollywood Would Only Be Bigger With Morbius
In 1998, when Blade debuted in cinemas, the superhero genre was widely perceived as a financial risk due to the poor box office performance of previous adaptations like Batman & Robin. However, Blade defied these expectations by demonstrating that a comic book movie could thrive with a grittier, more adult-oriented approach while still appealing to a broad audience. Moreover, it was a significant milestone because it showed profitability for R-rated comic book films and showcased a Black lead character – aspects that the Marvel Cinematic Universe would steer clear of for quite some time.
Back in a challenging financial time for Marvel, I was part of the team that made “Blade” a success. Though films like the 2000’s “X-Men” and 2002’s “Spider-Man” would later be credited with kick-starting the modern superhero movie era, it was actually “Blade” that showed the world that Marvel properties could thrive on the big screen.
Discovering that Blade was already acknowledging Morbius as early as 1998 adds to the movie’s awe-inspiring quality. The original film’s method of universe development, even including the cut Morbius scene, was impressively forward-thinking. Long before post-credit scenes became common in superhero films, Blade endeavored to establish connections among various Marvel characters, hinting at a unified universe that was ahead of its time. It wasn’t until a decade later, with Iron Man’s Nick Fury scene, that another film attempted something similar.
Blade and Morbius Are Still Part of Hollywood’s Superhero Game
The Blade series might have had a larger impact than it did, but events unfolded differently. Instead of a Blade-Morbius collaboration, the series proceeded with two follow-ups. Despite the fact that the quality of the trilogy decreased as it progressed, the first two films continue to be important contributions to superhero filmmaking. As for these characters, they have taken distinct routes in today’s superhero world.
As a passionate film fan, I’m excitedly looking forward to Marvel Studios reimagining the iconic character, Blade, with Mahershala Ali donning the titular role. However, the journey for this project has been quite challenging, marked by changes in directors and numerous script rewrites. Most recently, the planned November 2025 release date has been scrapped. Nevertheless, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige assures us that Blade will undoubtedly make his mark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the specifics about whether he’ll star in a solo film or feature in other projects are yet to be clarified.
Regarding the original Blade character, Wesley Snipes made an appearance in the blockbuster hit “Deadpool and Wolverine”. The introduction of this character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe was met with enthusiasm by fans, sparking interest for a potential “Blade 4”. However, given that Marvel Studios is currently working on a reboot, the idea of another Blade film seems unlikely. But since the “Multiverse Storyline” continues, it’s not impossible for Snipes to make another appearance in a future project.
In contrast to expectations, Sony’s endeavor to debut Morbius within its Spider-Man Universe didn’t fare exceptionally well. The 2022 film, featuring Jared Leto as the Living Vampire, encountered difficulties both in terms of critical reception and box office performance, leading some to question future installments. However, it’s important to note that Sony hasn’t ruled out Morbius’ return entirely. Any future appearances might occur within larger team-up projects or through possible multiverse interactions, rather than as standalone sequels.
At the moment, you can stream “Blade” on Amazon Prime Video. Additionally, it’s also available for rental or purchase on multiple digital platforms.
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2024-11-16 19:14