Wesley Snipes, the actor perhaps best known for playing vampire hunter Blade, is ready to usher in a new chapter in his Hollywood career, signing with the Independent Artist Group for representation.
The actor and martial artist, who reprized his role as Blade to the delight of fans in this summer's $1.3 billion-grossing film Deadpool and Wolverinehe has an acting career that spans over three decades and spans all genres. The actor gained notoriety for his work in the 1990s in dramas such as Jungle feverhis influential crime film New Jack Citycomical dishes like To Wong Fu, thank you for everything! Giulia Newmarand action films The demolition man AND Passenger 57.
Lama seemed like a harmless action thriller when it hit theaters in 1998, but the film, exuding a tough, joke-filled attitude, launched a trilogy that has gained stature and influence since the final installment was released in 2004. When Snipes made his surprise appearance in Deadpool and Wolverinethe audience screamed and screamed.
The actor moved into independent action films in the 2000s and tried to spotlight a budding film industry in developing countries, but has resurfaced in films like The Mercenaries 3 and that of Eddie Murphy Dolemite is my name AND Coming to 2 Americaas well as the Kevin Hart miniseries True story. IAG hopes to build on the growing momentum.
Snipes has been on an entrepreneurial path alongside his acting career and is actively incubating several ventures in the tech space, including a mobile platform. IAG will work with the actor to enhance these initiatives.
Snipes' signing continues IAG's wave of big names and iconic talent getting second acts. Regina Hall, Sharon Stone, Nathalie Emmanuel, Maria Bello, William H Macy, Ken Jeong, Marsha Gay Harden and director John Woo are among those the scrappy agency has signed in recent years.