When I asked Lennie James which iconic action role he’d most love to take on, he didn’t hesitate for even a second.
“Blade,” he said.
Not Batman. Not Bond. Not John Wick. Blade. And frankly, there may never have been a more correct answer.
Lennie lit up talking about the Daywalker; the half-vampire, half-human Marvel antihero who possesses all the strengths of a vampire and none of the weaknesses. He recalled discovering the character in the comics as a kid, completely blown away by the mythology and the sheer coolness of the concept. “Who is this dude?” he laughed, describing how the legend of the Daywalker instantly grabbed him.
He also made it clear that he still considers Blade, starring Wesley Snipes, one of the best comic book adaptations ever made. High praise… And he’s not wrong. Snipes’ leather-clad vampire hunter walked so the modern superhero genre could run. For James, stepping into that legacy wouldn’t be about replacing anyone; it would be about honouring one of the most iconic genre performances of all time.
You can see it. Lennie James has that quiet, coiled intensity. The calm, measured threat. The sense that he doesn’t need to raise his voice because he already knows how the situation ends. As he put it himself, he doesn’t need to prove he can do the job; he just does it. Blade energy? Off the charts.
The Future of Blade in the MCU
Marvel’s Blade reboot has had one of the most turbulent development journeys in the studio’s recent history. Announced back in 2019 with Mahershala Ali attached to star as Eric Brooks, the project was immediately met with huge excitement. Ali even appeared at Comic-Con to confirm it personally, a mic-drop moment for the MCU’s supernatural future.
Since then, though, the film has faced multiple script rewrites and director changes, with filmmakers including Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange departing the project. The movie was also removed from Disney’s 2025 release schedule, signalling Marvel’s commitment to getting it right rather than rushing it out.
What we do know is that the MCU version of Blade is expected to be darker, R-rated, and far more horror-driven than most Marvel fare. Mia Goth is attached, reportedly as the villain Lilith, and there’s strong speculation that Blade could tie into the MCU’s supernatural corner; potentially even paving the way for a Midnight Suns team-up.
There’s enormous anticipation around what Blade will mean for Marvel’s tonal shift. With horror elements creeping in via projects like Werewolf by Night and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Blade could be the full commitment to the darker side of the MCU. And while Mahershala Ali remains locked in, it’s fascinating to imagine what someone like Lennie James could bring to that world… Even if not as Blade himself, then as a formidable ally or adversary.
Lennie James in Mayor of Kingstown
While we wait for vampires to invade the MCU, James is currently dominating a very different kind of brutal landscape in Mayor of Kingstown.
In the Paramount+ crime drama, James plays Frank Moses, an OG Detroit gangster whose reputation precedes him long before he fully steps into frame. We hear about him before we truly meet him. We see the aftermath of what he’s capable of. By the time he arrives properly, the audience already knows: this man is not to be underestimated.
Frank isn’t chaotic. He isn’t reactive. He’s calculated. Where Lennie’s The Walking Dead character Morgan Jones was constantly evolving and grappling with morality in a collapsing world, Frank operates with total clarity. He’s seen it all before. Nothing rattles him because he always has something to compare it to.
And that’s what makes him so compelling in the volatile, prison-fuelled power structure of Kingstown. Surrounded by heavyweights like Jeremy Renner and Toby Bamtefa, James doesn’t need to posture. He simply occupies space. He brings authority without theatrics.
From comic book dream roles to gritty crime dramas to motion-capture adventures in the Bond universe, Lennie James continues to prove he’s one of the most versatile performers working today. Blade might be a fantasy… But if Marvel ever needs someone who understands darkness, discipline, and deadly calm? They know who to call.