By reprising his role in Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine, one past Marvel movie actor has broken a huge record that was previously held by Hugh Jackman. After Deadpool & Wolverine was confirmed to be in development, with Ryan Reynolds and Jackman returning as their Fox X-Men franchise characters, many theorized that past Marvel characters and actors would cameo in the MCU movie, which came to fruition. Several heroes from the MCU and other non-MCU Marvel franchises made appearances in Deadpool & Wolverine, including many from Fox’s newly-dubbed Earth-10005.

While Deadpool & Wolverine caught up with Wade Wilson and his found family on Earth-10005, there were many surprise additions to the cast. Deadpool came face-to-face with many exciting Wolverine variants, including the so-called “Cavillrine” played by Henry Cavill. In the Void, the likes of Aaron Stanford’s Pyro, Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, Channing Tatum’s Gambit and Dafne Keen’s X-23 were fantastic to see return, or debut in Tatum’s case. However, one returning Marvel actor has set a new record that puts all others to shame.

Wesley Snipes Is Now The Longest-Serving Marvel Actor In History

Wesley Snipes as Blade in Blade Trinity (2004)

As part of the team comprised of Elektra, Gambit and X-23 in the Void, named the “Others” by Deadpool, Wesley Snipes’ Eric Brooks, a.k.a. Blade, also joined the cast of Deadpool & Wolverine. Snipes originally appeared as the Daywalker in 1998’s Blade, which was produced by New Line Cinema and kick-started a trilogy of movies that paved the way for subsequent superhero franchises. Since Snipes’ debut as Blade took place 26 years ago, he has now become the longest-serving Marvel movie actor in history.

Wesley Snipes’ Marvel Movies
Year
Studio

Blade
1998

New Line Cinema

Blade II
2002
New Line Cinema

Blade: Trinity
2004

New Line Cinema

Deadpool & Wolverine
2024
Marvel Studios

This record was about to be held by Hugh Jackman, who has portrayed James “Logan” Howlett’s Wolverine for 24 years as of Deadpool & Wolverine. This record was also previously held by Patrick Stewart, whose appearance as Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness marked 22 years as the X-Men leader. Jackman and Stewart have both appeared in many more projects than Snipes, but even though he has only been featured in four live-action Marvel movies, Snipes is Marvel’s longest-serving actor ever.

Michael Keaton’s Superhero Record Is Yet To Be Beaten

Michael Keaton returning as Batman in The Flash

Wesley Snipes’ 26-year-long career in Marvel movies is certainly impressive, but Michael Keaton’s superhero tenure is still unmatched. Keaton first appeared as Bruce Wayne’s Batman in Tim Burton’s Batman movie in 1989, and reprised the role in 1992 for Batman Returns. It seems Keaton’s time as the Caped Crusader was over when Val Kilmer took over the role in Batman Forever, but his return as Bruce Wayne in 2023’s The Flash cemented Keaton as the longest-serving superhero actor in history.

Over the span of 34 years, Michael Keaton portrayed Batman in three movies, though he also branched out into other superhero franchises, which included his casting as Adrian Toomes’ Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Keaton’s record is still eight years higher than Wesley Snipes’, and a full decade more than Hugh Jackman’s, so if Snipes returns as Blade when he’s nearing 70, and Jackman reprises his Wolverine role at 65, which seems unlikely after Deadpool & Wolverine, it’s possible either of these actors could beat Keaton’s monumental superhero record.