As every season of Marvel Rivals rolls out, fans eagerly anticipate new heroes joining the fray. Season three opened with the powerful Jean Grey, and now, the iconic Blade steps into the spotlight. While die-hard fans had their suspicions thanks to dataminers, Blade’s emergence has been hinted at since the earlier, Dracula-themed season. Players are excited to command a character they’ve cherished since Wesley Snipes famously lit up the screen in 1998.
Gabe Kunda, the talented voice actor of Blade, shares this enthusiasm. You’ve likely recognized his voice in films and notable games like Apex Legends and Date Everything. His admiration for Blade is evident as he connects Snipes’ portrayal to the character’s legacy, drawing comparisons to Robert Downey Jr.’s impact on Iron Man. While he acknowledges different interpretations, Snipes remains the touchstone for Kunda’s performance in Marvel Rivals.
“Often, audiences will inevitably compare my portrayal to Wesley’s,” Kunda remarked in an interview. “While it’s important to honor that, I aimed to infuse my individuality into Blade, creating a unique interpretation.”
Blade’s current challenge isn’t about defining who he is but rather about making his appearance. Since Kevin Feige announced at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con that Blade would join the MCU, the character’s standalone project has faced hurdles in development. For fans craving that vampire-slaying action, Wesley Snipes appears in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine and more recently in Sinners. Meanwhile, the exciting news has surfaced that Arkane, the studio behind the acclaimed Dishonored series, is developing its own take on Blade, although that project doesn’t seem to reach completion for several years.
Kunda recalls auditioning for a Marvel game back in 2024, not fully realizing it would become Blade in Rivals. Serendipitously, he learned of his selection shortly after expressing his intentions at Comic-Con that year.
This is CRAZY. This was July 2024…
Literally a week or so later I got the call….mannnnnn……. pic.twitter.com/S4KZGE4Oy4
— Gabe Kunda (@GabeKunda) July 30, 2025
As the newest character in Marvel Rivals, Blade represents the 41st addition to an expansive roster, inviting vibrant conversations in the gaming community. Before each match, characters engage in banter that reveals their backgrounds and relationships with each other, providing both character development and exciting hints for upcoming heroes.
For Kunda and his fellow voice actors, these interactions are crucial during recording sessions. While other lines can be recorded with minimal context, pre-fight dialogue demands a deeper understanding of character dynamics. Kunda, who is a fan of prominent voice actors, emphasizes how vital it is to interact with the characters, not merely the actors behind them.
This focused approach has helped him remain grounded as he contemplates Blade’s future. With familiar names like Steve Blum and Laura Bailey in the cast, he acknowledged the continuity that can take place across various projects. However, Kunda prefers not to view Rivals through that lens and remains committed to making this version of Blade his own, free from undue pressure.
If anything, Kunda is excited about what lies ahead for Blade beyond Rivals. He believes future interpretations could draw from different portrayals—a chance to reshape Blade while potentially introducing new elements. Echoing sentiments from reboot film director Bassam Tariq, he points out the freedom inherent in Blade’s character, which contrasts with more established heroes like Spider-Man.
With this creative space in mind, Kunda is determined to deliver “the best Blade that I can be” for the community in Marvel Rivals.
Blade arrives in Marvel Rivals with the season 3.5 update that drops on August 8. To celebrate, Kunda will be showcasing his character on Twitch this weekend—stay tuned for an exciting time!
Are you curious about how these adaptations impact Blade’s legacy? Understanding where characters like Blade fit within broader narratives makes for fascinating discussions. Explore more about your favorite heroes and games on Moyens I/O for insights and updates that keep you in the loop.