The recent multiverse arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has led to a reevaluation of the franchise's origins, with 1998's Blade being hailed as the true beginning of the MCU. The film, starring Wesley Snipes as a vampire-hunting 'Daywalker,' was a significant hit at the box office and paved the way for the Marvel boom of the 2000s and the MCU. The film's appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine has retrospectively added the Blade trilogy to the MCU canon, making an argument for the 1998 debut being the 'first' MCU movie.
When we talk about the origins of the Marvel Cinematic Universe , usually the discussion centers around Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, and Thor.
However, the recent multiverse arc in Hollywood's most popular superhero franchise means that the true beginnings of the MCU happen a decade before Robert Downey Jr. first builds his iron armor. 1998's Blade starred Wesley Snipes as a vampire-hunting"Daywalker," and was released at a time when Marvel was nowhere near as prestigious as it would go on to be. Through stylish film-making, and a charismatic lead, it would become the first Marvel-based movie to be a significant hit at the box office, paving the way for the Marvel boom of the 2000s and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
For years, it was heralded as a foundation of what was to come, but a recent appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine makes it the first MCU movie — from a certain point of view.
'Blade' Was a Different Kind of Comic Book Movie Released during summer 1998, the film tells the story of Eric Brooks, also known as Blade, a half-vampire"Daywalker" who possesses all the supernatural strengths of vampires, but none of their weaknesses. He uses these skills to wage a war on vampires, hunting them down as he uncovers the plot of Deacon Frost , an elder of the vampires who wishes to take over the human race.
The film came before the domination of the Marvel brand, and was free from the weight of expectation that would meet other superhero movies. As such, director Stephen Norrington delivered something dark, dynamic, and influenced by the horror genre as well as films such as The Crow and Hong Kong action cinema. Blade led audiences into an underworld that was exciting, witty, and action-packed, with box office returns proving they were right to do so.
Wesley Snipes' Action Hero Was Marvel's First Big Hit Blade was not marketed heavily as a"Marvel movie" given that the brand was not as popular as it is today. The Stan Lee-fronted company was enduring financial troubles, and had not had the same success on the big screen that rivals DC had enjoyed with the Batman and Superman franchises. Related The 20 Worst Marvel Movies, Ranked It's Morbin' time!
Posts 30 By Robert Lee III However, Blade represented a turning of the tide. The film made $131.2 million against a $45 million budget, becoming the most successful movie based on a Marvel character by far at that point. That success would be the beginning of a generation of hits for Marvel, as the first X-Men movie would follow two years later, followed by Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies, and, of course, Iron Man a decade later.
Blade's Appearance in 'Deadpool & Wolverine' Made the Movie MCU Canon 20 years after he last slayed the undead, Snipes saddled up again as one of the many non-MCU characters encountered during Deadpool & Wolverine. In the blockbuster, Blade is one of four abandoned characters from other movies, alongside Elektra , Gambit , and X-23 , occupying the Void, a wasteland populated by characters expelled from their timeline.
This group helps the title characters fight against Cassandra Nova , a powerful mutant who rules over the Void. Subscribe to our newsletter for deeper MCU origins Keep exploring: subscribe to our newsletter for deep dives on MCU beginnings, cinematic milestones, and the hidden links that reframe films like Blade—insightful coverage that connects movie history and franchise canon.
Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. What makes the appearance significant is that it retrospectively adds the Blade trilogy to the MCU canon, making an argument for the 1998 debut being the"first" MCU movie.
While 1986's Howard the Duck came before, there's no suggestion that future versions of the character that appear in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and Avengers: Endgame are the same character. However, in a scene during Deadpool & Wolverine, Snipes says:"There's only one Blade...and there's only ever gonna be one Blade," suggesting this is the same character, and thus making the 1998 film the earliest part of the MCU.
Such inclusion may seem like fan service, but it is a suitable tribute to a film that isn't always heralded for its influence. Reynolds himself posted on social media:"There is no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade first creating a market. He's Marvel Daddy.
" Snipes' Blade proved that Marvel heroes could find an audience, and it's only right that"Marvel Daddy" should be embraced by the legacy he began. Blade Like Follow Followed R Horror Action Superhero Adventure Release Date August 21, 1998 Runtime 120 Minutes Director Stephen Norrington Writers David S. Goyer, Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan Producers Peter Frankfurt, Robert Engelman, Wesley Snipes Cast See All Franchise Blade Powered by Expand Collapse
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