Here’s a cast and character guide to trilogy capper Blade: Trinity. While the success of 2000’s X-Men is often credited with kickstarting the modern-day obsession with comic book movies, it was 1998’s Blade that made the genre cool again. After his planned adaptation of Black Panther failed to come together, Wesley Snipes signed on to play Blade instead, the half-human, half-vampire hybrid who hunts down other bloodsuckers with an array of gadgets and weaponry. Snipes was perfectly cast, and the film featured a rich mythology and visceral action sequences.
Snipes reprised his role for Blade II, with Guillermo del Toro (The Shape Of Water) taking over the director’s chair. The sequel is arguably superior to the original, with a great cast and action. Sadly, Blade: Trinity was a mediocre finale. The original pitch involved a Mad Max-style adventure where vampires have taken over the world and enslaved humanity, with Blade being the only one who can save the day. New Line deemed this too expensive, so writer/director David S. Goyer instead wrote a script that’s basically Blade Vs Dracula. Snipes was very unhappy with his new angle and Goyer as director and was famously difficult to work with on the production, including refusing to shoot certain scenes and deliver dialogue.
Blade: Trinity was a modest success but is easily considered the weakest of the three films. Trinity was followed by a short-lived Blade TV series and the Blade franchise will be rebooted for the MCU with Mahershala Ali taking over the title role. Let’s take a look back at Blade: Trinity’s cast and characters.
Wesley Snipes - Blade
Wesley Snipes (Dolemite Is My Name) returns as the vampire hybrid, who is framed for murdering a human at the start of Blade: Trinity and must team with the Nightstalkers to stop a vampire plan to take over the world.
Kris Kristofferson - Abraham Whistler
Kris Kristofferson also returns as Blade’s crusty mentor Whistler, who is feeling his age when the story begins and worries about leaving Blade alone when he passes. Whistler is later killed when the police raid their hideout but it’s soon discovered he has another daughter named Abigail.
Jessica Biel - Abigail Whistler
Jessica Biel (The Sinner) is Abigail in Blade: Trinity, Whistler’s secret daughter who fights with the Nightstalkers. Abi is somewhat emotionally closed off and addicted to combat, but she’s shown to be badly affected by the deaths of her father and, later on, most of her Nightstalkers unit.
Ryan Reynolds - Hannibal King
Ryan Reynolds admitted his quippy take on Hannibal King was a prototype for his eventual Deadpool performance. King was once a vampire turned by villain Danica Talos who was cured and dedicated himself to eradicating all bloodsuckers. Despite his cocky attitude, he’s shown to somewhat haunted by his time as a vampire.
Dominic Purcell - Dracula / Drake
Prison Break’s Dominic Purcell plays main villain Drake - AKA Dracula - in Blade: Trinity. Drake is the first vampire, immune to daylight and has the ability to shapeshift. Drake had sealed himself away due to an overwhelming disgust with both vampires and humans prior to the start of the movie and sees Blade as his only worthy challenge.
Parker Posey - Danica Talos
Parker Posey (Lost In Space) is the head of a powerful vampire clan in Blade: Trinity, who unearth Drake to aid in their evil schemes. She also turned Hannibal King, who retains a burning hatred for her.
Next: When Will Marvel’s Blade Movie Release?
