How a ’90s Marvel Action Hit Became the First MCU Movie Without Anyone Noticing

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How a ’90s Marvel Action Hit Became the First MCU Movie Without Anyone Noticing

Rotham June 5, 2026 0 Comments

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 (Stephen Dorff), 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

Wesley Snipes as Blade smiles and holds up a double-sided throwing weapon in Blade.

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.

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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 (Jennifer Garner), Gambit (Channing Tatum), and X-23 (Dafne Keen), occupying the Void, a wasteland populated by characters expelled from their timeline. This group helps the title characters (Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman) fight against Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), a powerful mutant who rules over the Void.

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. (Plus, Mahershala Ali‘s Blade reboot doesn’t seen like it’ll see the light of day.)

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.