The MCU Blade Movie May Be On Pause, But There’s Reportedly One Aspect Staying The Same

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Summary

  • Blade reboot, starring Mahershala Ali, is currently on pause per recent reports.
  • Marvel still wants Ali to play Blade in some capacity despite the film’s status.
  • Fans’ mixed reactions to the rumored Blade reboot cancellation have been fueled by recent Marvel movie releases.

The upcoming revival of “Blade” in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is highly awaited by many fans. Yet, some reports suggest its cancellation. But a fresh piece of news offers an encouraging outlook on this matter.

More than five years have passed since Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige declared the Blade reboot featuring Mahershala Ali at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con. Since then, numerous Marvel films have been launched, but no concrete news about the film’s release has emerged. In April, a writer speculated that Marvel secretly shelved the project, yet they intend to have Ali embody the character in future endeavors. A recent report appears to corroborate this theory.

Daniel Richtman, a movie insider, recently posted updates about the Blade reboot on his Patreon page. He mentioned that although the production is currently paused, Marvel still intends for Ali to play the role of Blade. This news comes following confirmation that the film has been put on hold, which isn’t surprising given the ongoing changes in the project.

Over time, the MCU movie has seen numerous adjustments, including a change in directors. Initially, Bassam Tariq (Mogul Mowgli, Ghosts of Sugar Land) was set to direct the reboot, but later French director Yann Demange (White Boy Rick, Dammi) took over. However, Demange left the project in June 2024. Furthermore, screenwriters Stacy Osei-Kuffour and Nic Pizzolatto have been involved in multiple script rewrites, with Ali reportedly being particular about the script. In October 2024, Disney removed the film from its 2025 release calendar and replaced it with Predator: Badlands instead.

Delroy Lindo, who was cast in the Blade reboot last November, recently discussed the project in an interview and suggested that it wasn’t progressing as planned. He mentioned that Marvel showed great interest in his idea and they had a captivating concept, but for some reason, the project derailed. Lindo did not reveal his character’s role in the upcoming MCU film, but he hinted that it might draw inspiration from Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political activist who established the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), as his character seems to have founded a Black community.

It seems more evident now that Ali may not star in his MCU film as previously anticipated. Yet, there remains a possibility he could play Blade in another Marvel project instead. The proposed cancellation of the _Blade_ film sparked varying reactions among fans. Those eagerly awaiting it were disheartened due to their high anticipation for the movie, hoping to witness Ali’s take on the famous vampire hunter, following Wesley Snipes’ successful portrayal. However, those who admired Snipes’ _Blade_ were relieved since they weren’t keen on a reboot in the first place. The 2024 film _Deadpool & Wolverine_, featuring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, may have stirred these feelings because it reminded them of Snipes returning to the role after over 19 years. Interestingly, Snipes himself hinted, “There’s only been one Blade. Only ever gonna be one Blade,” which some perceived as a subtle jab at Ali’s reboot attempt.

Although Marvel Studios hasn’t explicitly confirmed Ali as Blade, persistent rumors suggest he will play the character in some form. Yet, with no official word on cancellation, fans can still harbor hopes for a solo movie, possibly just delayed. Previously, Feige mentioned their dedication to a new Blade reboot, so we’ll have to wait and see.

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2025-05-02 21:16