Wesley Snipes Overtakes Hugh Jackman’s Marvel Record in Deadpool & Wolverine
Hugh Jackman, famous for his long run as Wolverine, lost his Marvel longevity record to Wesley Snipes after Snipes appeared in Deadpool & Wolverine. Jackman responded with humor to the friendly rivalry.
For a quarter of a century, Hugh Jackman has been synonymous with the clawed mutant hero, Wolverine. Even after what was billed as his swan song in 2019’s Logan, he’s back in action for another round. But in the latest Marvel adventure, Deadpool & Wolverine, Jackman found himself unexpectedly outdone by another returning legend—and he couldn’t help but joke about it.
When the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked off in 2008, it introduced a fresh lineup of actors stepping into the shoes of classic comic book characters. As the franchise expanded into multiverse territory, it opened the door for past versions of these heroes to make a comeback. After Spider- Man: No Way Home brought back Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and a host of familiar villains, Deadpool & Wolverine raised the stakes by reuniting fans with Fox-era stars like Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Dafne Keene as X-23, and Wesley Snipes reprising his role as Blade.
Marvel’s Record for Longevity Gets a New Holder
With the return of the original Daywalker, Jackman’s reign as Marvel’s longest-serving actor came to an end. Snipes, who first played Blade in 1998, now holds the Guinness World Record for the longest tenure as a Marvel character. Jackman, always quick with a quip, addressed the situation in a recent interview:
“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.”
Before this, Tobey Maguire and Willem Dafoe briefly held the record after their return in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Patrick Stewart then took the title by reprising Charles Xavier in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, only for Jackman to claim it back in Deadpool & Wolverine. But with Snipes’ surprise appearance, the record shifted once again.
Blade’s Future and Marvel’s Changing Plans
Marvel Studios has spent years trying to reboot Blade, with Mahershala Ali waiting in the wings as the new vampire hunter. The project has faced multiple setbacks, cycling through directors and writers without finding the right direction. Snipes’ cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, where he delivers the line, “There is only one Blade, and there will only ever be one Blade,” was a playful nod to the franchise’s rocky journey.
Recent reports suggest Marvel has scrapped plans for a solo Blade film, opting instead to introduce the character in a Midnight Suns team-up. This new direction would bring together supernatural heroes like Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing, and Doctor Strange. Rumors are swirling that Snipes might get another shot at the role in Avengers: Secret Wars, but with the multiverse saga’s conclusion not set until December 2027, fans will have to wait to see if that pans out.