With each passing day, I grow skeptical of Mahershala Ali’s Blade ever making it to the big screen. Why, you might ask? Well, the long-awaited Marvel reboot has been pushed back once again.
Disney recently announced (thanks to Deadline) that the vampire hunter’s return has been removed from its 2025 release calendar, marking yet another setback for a project that seems almost cursed.
Blade, which was set to star the two-time Oscar winner Ali as the no-nonsense daywalker, has faced a troubled development history. Since its dramatic announcement at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, the project has cycled through multiple directors, writers, and release dates, becoming something of a cautionary tale about the problems associated with bringing supernatural heroes to life in the MCU.
The revolving door of creative talent tells a story of its own. The project has seen two directors exit – Bassam Tariq in September 2022 and Yann Demange in June 2024 – while the script has passed through more hands than an ancient artifact. Writers Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Michael Starrbury, Michael Green, and most recently Eric Pearson have all taken turns attempting to crack what seems to be a very difficult story to write.
On the actors side, Ali has recently joined the cast of the next Jurassic World film, further complicating the production timeline. However, original Blade actor Wesley Snipes has publicly supported Ali, stating, “It’s not the actor’s fault… You need a lot of secret sauce to do the ‘Blade‘ thing, man.”
While Marvel chief Kevin Feige has emphasized the importance of “not rushing it,” the project’s only tangible presence in the MCU thus far remains Ali’s voice cameo in a post-credits scene from 2021’s Eternals. Ironically, Wesley Snipes’ recent appearance as Blade in Deadpool & Wolverine – where he joked “there ain’t gonna be another Blade” – has proven oddly prophetic, at least for now.
Marvel has placed three mysterious placeholder dates on its 2028 calendar, suggesting that Blade‘s hunt might resume then, potentially as part of a fresh wave of supernatural films and shows in the post-Multiverse Saga MCU. For now, vampire fans will have to wait longer for their daywalker to return, while Predator: Badlands takes over Blade‘s abandoned November 2025 release date.
The only constants in this ongoing saga are Ali himself and rising star Mia Goth, who remains attached to play the villainous Lilith whenever this vampire tale finally sees the light of day.
