Blade on Netflix - The Perfect Actors for the Role

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Blade

At this point, this is just a rumor. However, as many fans have been hoping, it appears that Marvel and Netflix will expand their dark corner of the MCU with several more titles, and one of them is Blade! And there is no place like Netflix for a comic book character like Blade to make the jump into the MCU - dark, gritty, in no way child-friendly, the vampire hunter will be right at home in this medium.

Of course, for most of us, Wesley Snipes is Blade - after all, he was the one to make the character known to us all. But, even if the actor has talked about the possibility of returning as the Dhampir, I hardly believe that this will happen - neither on the big nor the small screen.

Still"¦

So, who might be the best actor to bring Blade back to life? Here are our top choices! And since we already mentioned a certain name"¦

Wesley Snipes

Wesley Snipes is Blade (The Independent)

Wesley Snipes is Blade (The Independent)

Come on - the guy is Blade. And if it wasn't for his problems (being in jail, that is), he would have continued the franchise.

And yes - Blade 3 was a mistake and Wesley Snipes is not the guy to be entirely blamed for it. After all, he was deeply involved in the role, asking his co-stars to refer to him only by using the name of the comic book character.

So my first pick would be Wesley Snipes. He's not a good actor by any means - however, as the character, he was more than convincing, with his demeanor, his way of delivering the lines, and his imposing physicality. He looks the role, even if he is 53 years old. And if Arnie can be convincing as the Terminator at 67…

Of course, this could be a short-lived series, given the age of the actor. However, once again, Wesley Snipes is Blade (pretty much like RDJ is Tony Stark).

Michael Jai White

Michael Jai White (Martial Arts Movie Junkie)

Michael Jai White (Martial Arts Movie Junkie)

Michael Jai White is just 5 years younger than Wesley Snipes. But, despite his age, he'd make a great Blade. Just take a look at his filmography and you will see that he has the moves, as well as the necessary attitude.

Sure, he’s already played a comic book character - but that movie was atrocious. Spawn could have been his launching ramp. Instead, he now plays in movies made just for his fans. He could do much more than that.

There might be a problem, however. It is rumored that the actor has already landed a role in the upcoming Black Panther flick (which is due in 2018), so it would make it impossible for him to play 2 characters in the same universe (quite the problem). But, if he wasn't cast, maybe Marvel and Netflix should look at him as the next Blade.

Marrese Crump

Marrese Crump (Film Combat Syndicate)

Marrese Crump (Film Combat Syndicate)

Marrese Crump isn’t exactly an actor, unlike the two actors we’ve discussed so far. However, he undeniably has the skill to pull Blade off, and he’s also much younger (he is just 34 years of age). In my opinion, he is also a great contender for the role - after all, Marvel has a knack for turning unknowns into major movie stars (or thereabout, in the case of the TV series).

Again, he is not an actor - in fact, he’s a martial artist, and his biggest role to date was in the Tony Jaa vehicle The Protector 2 (also known as Warrior King 2). That movie might have been a big letdown, but his exotic fighting style would bring something new into the MCU.

Michael Ealy

Michael Ealy (CB)

Michael Ealy (CB)

Turning back to older actors, Michael Ealy can also be seen as a contender for the role of Blade. And even if he doesn't have any experience in any kind of martial arts, he more than makes up for that in acting experience. His biggest silver screen movies thus far include Seven Pounds (with Will Smith) and Underworld Awakening.

But he has appeared in many TV series to date, including the short-lived (but awesome) Almost Human (opposite Karl Urban), The Good Wife, The Following, and Californication. So Marvel already knows that he has the range needed for the role.

For the moment, Michael Ealy doesn't have any projects scheduled for the future. So he is free to play Blade - but only if Netflix and Marvel are looking in the right direction.

Gary Carr

Gary Carr (Indiewire)

Gary Carr (Indiewire)

Here is another actor with plenty of experience, but no name made for himself - just what Marvel usually has in mind. Gary Carr has appeared thus far only in TV productions, whether series or films. And the biggest show in which he acted is the excellent Downton Abbey - even if he appeared in just four episodes, he was certainly noticed by everybody.

At the moment, he is scheduled to appear in the first season of The Deuce, starting in 2017, alongside James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal. And if this doesn’t turn out to be his big break (he’s been cast in one of the main roles), maybe Marvel should help him.

I believe that he would make a great Blade, and that such a show would catapult him to stardom.

Taye Diggs

Taye Diggs (Equilibrium Fans)

Taye Diggs (Equilibrium Fans)

Taye Diggs is yet another perfect example of an actor who can bring Blade to life, even if he does lack martial arts experience. He is a skilled actor who’s made a name for himself on the silver screen, in movies that include Equilibrium (opposite Christian Bale) and Chicago.

He has appeared in quite a few TV series as well, most recently in The Good Wife and Private Practice. And yes - he might appear to be a softy, but he isn't. It’s just the way he presents himself to the world - what can you expect from someone who grew up in a family of artists?

Also, he looks pretty awesome when holding a katana - even though he didn't know how to wield it in that particular movie. As far as I am concerned, Taye Diggs has everything needed in order to portray Blade.

Everything except for a signed contract.

David Oyelowo

David Oyelowo (Daily Beast)

David Oyelowo (Daily Beast)

This has one chance in a million to happen - but David Oyelowo would make a great Blade. I will even go so far as to say that Marvel should cast him in any of its big screen productions - as a secondary character, he would make a difference.

From among the actors on this list, thus far, he has starred in the most well-known movies - and he has quite a few credits to his name. Selma, Interstellar, Jack Reacher, Lincoln, and Rise of the Planets of the Apes are just a few of them.

So it can’t be denied that he has range as an actor. And if he indeed ended up playing Blade on Netflix, then it would be easy to convince Marvel to make the jump from TV series to big screen. I did say that he is an excellent supporting actor. But he would also shine as a lead.

Idris Elba

Idris Elba (Forbes)

Idris Elba (Forbes)

Don't frown - yes, Idris Elba is the go-to guy when it comes to fan casting lists such as this one. And for good reason: He is one hell of an actor when he has the right script to work with. And seeing how the Netflix series are thus far, his portrayal of Blade would surpass any expectations.

Of course, Idris Elba already appears in the MCU, as the criminally underdeveloped Heimdall. But this will change. First and foremost, the actor is rumored to have a bigger role in Thor: Ragnarok, which is very good. But, even more importantly, it will be his last outing as the character.

So, in a way, he’ll be free to portray other characters in the MCU. And since the actors from the TV series never appear in the big screen movies, I don't see why he couldn't be cast as Blade.

After all, he made a name for himself playing in series like Luther and The Wire.

Common

There are too many projects in which Common has been involved in too many projects to list them all here - but most of the roles he’s known for are his secondary roles. So playing the lead in a Netflix series would be quite a big change for him.

However, what does one have to do with the other? Common is an extremely talented actor who can bring lots of gravitas to a role and who would convince everybody that he is the only vampire hunter. He is one of the coolest guys without even trying.

This being said, there might be a problem with casting him as the next Blade, since he’s also appearing this year in DC's Suicide Squad. But the thing is that he will only be featured in this movie in the DCEU, as one of the villains, the Tattooed Man.

And it isn't as if DC owns him. There are quite a few actors who have played both Marvel and DC characters.

Tyrese

Tyrese (Slash Film)

Tyrese (Slash Film)

Tyrese Gibson seems like an odd choice to portray a tormented Dhampir vampire hunter. After all, he is kind of goofy and he isn't best known for being a leading man - his biggest credits (Fast and Furious and Transformers) have him playing second or even third fiddle.

However, this is the kind of odd choice Marvel would make. Just look at Star Lord and who plays him, and you will get the idea.

At the moment, Tyrese still hopes that he will become the next Green Lantern in a movie that’s due in 2020 (if at all, considering how the DCEU works). So maybe he should campaign for a smaller role - such as the one of Blade. It would be a change of pace for him, and it could show, once again, why Marvel is so awesome at choosing its actors.

D.B. Woodside

D.B. Woodside (24 Spoilers)

D.B. Woodside (24 Spoilers)

D.B. Woodside is not a big screen actor. He has established himself as a TV actor and has plenty of credentials. So Marvel could pay attention to him if a Netflix Blade series is in the offing.

Among others, he’s starred in series such as 24, Parenthood, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Single Ladies. Most recently, he appeared in Lucifer, a TV show which has been renewed for a second season. This could be a problem, but it actually isn't - as we’ve all seen, Netflix isn't in too much of a hurry with delivering a season each year for its Marvel shows (the exception is, of course, Daredevil).

So D.B. Woodside knows what supernatural shows are all about, and he has the right build to play Blade. Fans everywhere want him in the role - and I don't see why he wouldn't make an excellent vampire hunter.

Omar Sy

Omar Sy (X-Men)

Omar Sy (X-Men)

Most recently, Omar Sy appeared in 2014 as Bishop in the blockbuster X-Men: Days of Future Past. While some might say that he was wasted on the role, I believe that he still made the best impression among all those mutants to be killed twice in the same movie.

Other than that, he also appeared in Jurassic World and the critically acclaimed The Intouchables. And since he was the highlight of the latter, it cannot be said that Omar Sy lacks the range of a good actor.

So what if he appeared in a Fox/Marvel production? It isn't as if he will reprise his role as Bishop any time soon. He would be great as Blade - if you also saw The Intouchables, you’ll know why I say this.

So what do you think?

Which of these actors would make a great Blade?

Do you have any other ideas?

Category: Top TV
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