Mahershala Ali's Blade Movie Rumors Quashed: Project Likely Dead

It seems the highly anticipated Blade movie has finally met its end. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) planned film has encountered numerous challenges over the years, and it now appears that the project has stalled with little chance of revival. This is particularly disappointing as it means we won't see Mahershala Ali take on the role of the iconic Daywalker, potentially marking one of the biggest disappointments in the MCU's history.

Rapper and artist Flying Lotus, who was set to contribute to the film's music, confirmed the project's cancellation on X / Twitter. "I guess we are so far from it even being a possibility now but. Yeah I was signed on to write music for the new BLADE movie before it fell thru," he stated. Flying Lotus, who recently directed the sci-fi horror film ASH for Shudder, expressed doubt about the film's revival, saying, "Maybe it'll come around again but I doubt it. Would have been fun tho."

Adding to the disappointment, costume designer Ruth E. Carter revealed on The John Campea Show that she was slated to design costumes for Blade, which was to be set in the 1920s. This setting would have provided an exciting backdrop for unique costume and production designs.

Further confirming the project's troubles, actor Delroy Lindo, who was also attached to the film alongside Ali, discussed its downfall with Entertainment Weekly. "When Marvel came to me, they seemed to be really interested in my input," Lindo said. "And in the various conversations I had with producers, the writer, the director at the time, it was all leading into being very inclusive. It was really exciting conceptually, but it was also exciting in terms of the character that was going to form. And then, for whatever reason, it just went off the rails."

Blade was initially announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, with a planned release this November. However, the film has seen multiple directors come and go, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, without any sticking to the project.

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Despite the setbacks, it's been only six months since Blade was removed from Marvel's release schedule in October 2024, and no new release date has been confirmed. However, a month after the film was pulled, MCU boss Kevin Feige reiterated the studio's commitment to the project. "We are committed to Blade. We love the character, we love Mahershala's take on him. And rest assured: whenever we change direction with a project, or are still figuring out how it fits into our schedule, we let the audience know. You're all up to date on what's happening," he told Omelete in November 2024. "But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU."