There’s a new Blade comic on the horizon, but not with the character you’re probably expecting.
Instead of Eric Brooks, the vampire hunter we know from the existing comics and Wesley Snipes movies, this story will instead focus on his daughter, a new character named Fallon Grey.
Here’s how Marvel is describing the series:
Fallon Grey is a sixteen year old girl from rural Oregon. Nominated for Prom Queen, Captain of the debate team, most popular girl in her class. But there is another side to Fallon. A feeling like there’s something more inside of her. When terror strikes her small town, she’ll find out just how right she was. As fearsome supernatural forces hunt Fallon, she’ll come face to face with something even more shocking than the monsters on her tail. Eric Brooks…Blade…her father?! And in each other, they’ll discover the purpose they’ve each been struggling to find
Recently though, the comic was delayed for unspecified reasons. That isn’t anything particularly peculiar, comics are delayed all the time, but according to a new rumor, it has everything to do with the next Blade movie.
Why is this comic important to the MCU?
Bleeding Cool reports (citing anonymous “well-connected sources”) that there’s a new Blade movie in development, and the higher-ups at Marvel are eyeing Fallon Grey to be the lead character. This would make her comic book debut especially important, as a poor introduction or a lukewarm fan reception could kill her momentum right out of the gate.
According to those sources, this is the reason for the comic book’s delay, as Marvel wants to be absolutely sure they’re getting the character right.
How likely is this to be true?
It’s technically possible, as the movie rights for Blade (along with Punisher and Ghost Rider) were returned to Marvel a little over two years ago. When those rights reverted, Marvel’s Kevin Feige was quick to point out that their slate is crowded enough as it is, so we shouldn’t expect to see reboots of these series anytime soon.
Two years later though, and we’re about to see Punisher debut in Daredevil Season 2, and the beginning of Phase Three in under a year. That means the completely uncharted Phase Four of the MCU is slowly inching into sight, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Marvel is already kicking some ideas around.
Overall, the idea of bringing a new Blade into the MCU, rather than yet another Eric Brooks story, seems like a much more interesting route to take. I’m going to say that this report seems very plausible… but…. we’re still four years out from the end of Phase Three, so if anything, consider this idea to be in early, early, early development at best.
Could Wesley Snipes return for that hypothetical Blade movie?
Again, it’s tough to definitively say yes or no at this point, but it does seem possible. Snipes was released from prison in 2013, and has since been slowly getting his career back on track, most recently taking a role in The Expendables 3 last year.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that just a few days ago, Snipes was teasing a new superhero project to TMZ. While it’s probably not another Blade film (due to the existing trilogy’s non-canonicity with the MCU)… it could be…
Snipes could conceivably reprise his role as Eric Brooks, taking a supporting role in the next Blade movie. At 53 years old, he’s probably not going to be headlining any big action spectacles anytime soon, but he could certainly play the mentor figure to the next Blade. To make it mesh with the MCU, the new film could leave Blade’s backstory vague, only establishing that he’s a mysterious character who’s had a long history with hunting vampires.
It doesn’t seem entirely likely, but at the same time, it would be really cool.
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