Marvel fans have been through a rollercoaster of emotions when it comes to the long-gestating Blade reboot. When Oscar winner Mahershala Ali was announced as the new Daywalker, excitement soared—only to be dashed when the project was ultimately shelved. Now, a new name has emerged as a potential successor: William Catlett, star of the upcoming Crystal Lake series and the vampire thriller Abigail.
During a recent Q&A screening of Crystal Lake, hosted by Collider's Perri Nemiroff, Catlett was asked about his "horror moviemaking bucket list." After some hesitation, he admitted he "wouldn't mind" taking on the role of Blade, a confession that drew enthusiastic applause from the audience and even from series creator Bob Caleb Kane. Catlett revealed he had previously worked with Wesley Snipes, the original Blade, and expressed confusion as to why the reboot never materialized, but made clear his interest in stepping into the iconic role.
This isn't the first time fans have speculated about who could fill Blade's boots. Wesley Snipes reprised his role in Deadpool & Wolverine, but he's been adamant that there's only one true Blade. Still, the MCU has a multiverse now, and anything is possible. Catlett's comments add fuel to the fire of speculation, especially given his horror credentials—he's already faced off against vampires in Abigail, so fighting them as Blade would be a natural progression.
While the future of Blade in the MCU remains uncertain, Catlett is currently focused on a different kind of terror: the small town of Crystal Lake. In Peacock's new prequel series, he plays the sheriff of the infamous town, years before the events of the original 1980 film. The show stars Linda Cardellini as a young Pamela Voorhees, grappling with the disappearance of her son Jason. It's a fresh take on the franchise, shifting focus to the villains rather than the victims, and promises to explore the origins of the Voorhees family's murderous legacy.
Catlett's enthusiasm for Blade is just one of many fan-driven hopes for the character's MCU future. With Crystal Lake's NYCC presence building buzz, and the series premiering on October 15, Catlett is about to become a household name in horror. Whether that leads to a call from Marvel remains to be seen, but his willingness to throw his hat in the ring is a promising sign for fans who desperately want to see Blade return to the big screen.
In the meantime, viewers can catch Catlett in Crystal Lake, which promises to deliver a dramatic and chilling origin story. And if Marvel ever decides to revisit Blade, they might just find their next Daywalker in the sheriff of Crystal Lake.
