Marvel’s Blade Reboot Canceled, Mahershala Ali Moves On

Actor Mahershala Ali has officially confirmed that the Blade movie reboot is no longer happening, and he has moved on to other projects. In a recent interview with GQ, Ali stated that if Marvel Studios were to revive the project, it would not include him.

‘The best way I can answer this question is, when I look at what is for me, is it was either this or that – and I’ll take this,’ Ali said, referencing his new movie, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. ‘No offense to them. I’ve been doing this professionally for pushing 30 years now, and one thing I’ve learned is that what is for you is for you and what is not is not.’

Ali went on to say that he has moved on from the Blade project and is focused on his new film, which he believes is more in line with the type of work he wants to be known for. ‘I don’t really want to be known for remakes. I’d love to do original work that resonates with people and impacts them in unique ways.’

Why Did the Blade Project Fall Apart?

The Blade reboot was first announced in 2019, with Mahershala Ali set to star as a new version of the vampire hunter. However, the project faced numerous delays and setbacks, with director Bassam Tariq stepping down in 2022. Despite the enthusiasm from Ali to make the film, the project ultimately fell apart.

Mariah Bautista, the executive producer of Blade, stated in an interview that the project was ‘a very difficult one to make.’ She added that the team was ‘very excited’ about the project, but ultimately, it ‘just didn’t come together.’

Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, admitted that he felt like a ‘gigantic loser and failure’ over the collapse of the Blade project. He stated that the team ‘didn’t feel confident that we could do that on Blade, and we didn’t want to do that to Mahershala and didn’t want to do that to us.’

Will Marvel Studios Revive the Blade Project?

With the Blade project officially canceled, fans are left wondering if Marvel Studios will revive the project in the future. While there has been no official announcement, some believe that the introduction of the Midnight Sons in the upcoming MCU movie, Ghost Rider, could potentially open the door for Blade.

Wesley Snipes, who played the original Blade, has expressed interest in reprising his role in a new film. He even went as far as poking fun at the MIA film, saying ‘Blade, lordylordylordy folks still lookin for the secret sauce, ridin snowmobiles in traffic, kinda rough.’

David S. Goyer, who wrote all three movies in the original Blade trilogy, has also expressed interest in writing Marvel’s Blade reboot. He stated that he ‘would, I’ve always loved the character and I love him. I’ve been sitting on the sidelines wondering, what in the world is going on? Why is it taking so long?’

The question now is, will Marvel Studios find a replacement for Ali and push forward with a new take on Blade, or give up entirely?