Mahershala Ali Excited for MCU’s Blade Revival

While promoting his new film Jurassic World Rebirth, Mahershala Ali has shared several disappointing updates about Marvel's long-delayed Blade project.

Originally unveiled at 2019's San Diego Comic-Con, Blade was initially slated for a November 2023 release. However, after multiple director changes and six years in development limbo, the Mahershala Ali-starring vampire hunter film remains in production purgatory.

Eight months have passed since Marvel quietly removed Blade from its release calendar without announcing a replacement date. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige later confirmed during a November 2024 interview with Omelete that the project hasn't been abandoned: "We're committed to Blade. We love Mahershala's interpretation of the character. While release plans have shifted, rest assured this character will join the MCU when the timing is right."

When pressed by Variety for updates, Ali offered an enigmatic response: "You'll need to ask Marvel. I'm prepared whenever they are." His comments to The Hollywood Reporter were similarly vague: "I'd love to see Blade happen. But Marvel's current priorities are unclear. Right now I'm focused on finding my next compelling role."

Several creatives attached to previous iterations have publicly discussed the project's collapse. In April, musician Flying Lotus revealed on Twitter/X: "I was contracted to score Blade before production stalled. The version I worked on appears dead, though I'd welcome its revival."

Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter (Black Panther) confirmed on The John Campea Show that her 1920s-themed wardrobe designs were scrapped when the film stalled. Actor Delroy Lindo told Entertainment Weekly: "The collaborative creative process showed tremendous promise before everything derailed inexplicably."

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The Blade franchise received unexpected attention through Wesley Snipes' cameo in the box office juggernaut Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.3B global). Star Ryan Reynolds championed a Logan-style farewell film for Snipes' version, crediting the original Blade trilogy (1998-2004) with paving the way for modern superhero cinema: "The entire superhero genre owes its existence to Blade's success. He's the godfather of Marvel adaptations - let's give him the sendoff he deserves."