Psst, Marvel – Mahershala Ali Is Still Ready For That BLADE Reboot

The new take on the vampire superhero thriller was first announced back in 2019.
Mahershala Ali in ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL (2019)

Last Updated on June 27, 2025 by Angel Melanson

It's been a long while since we heard anything about Marvel's Blade reboot, with production stalling amid the loss of numerous directors, cast members and other delays. But proposed star Mahershala Ali is still down – if Marvel are, too.

First announced by producer Kevin Fiege all the way back in 2019 at San Diego Comic Con, Marvel's Blade was set to see Ali play the vampire-human hybrid first originated on-screen by Wesley Snipes in 1998. The project went on to add, and lose, both Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange as directors, with True Detective‘s Nic Pizzolatto said to be rewriting a draft script from Michael Starrbury (When They See Us. Also attached to star were scream queen Mia Goth (X, Pearl) and Delroy Lindo (Sinners), with an original release date of November 3, 2023 bumped to September 6, 2024, then to February 14, 2025, and then to November 7, 2025, before Blade was removed from the release schedule entirely in October 2024.

As of June 2025, Marvel's Blade is nowhere to be seen, but Ali doesn't seem to have given up hope. Speaking at the New York premiere of Jurassic World Rebirth (in which he stars alongside Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey), the Oscar-winner had a simple but concise answer to Variety's query about the whereabouts of Blade:

“Call Marvel. I’m ready. Let them know I’m ready.”

According to Variety, back in November, Feige said that Marvel Studios was “still committed” to Blade, assuring fans that the studio: “…love[s] 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.”

So there you have it folks – if Ali doesn't know what's happening with Blade, the rest of us don't stand a chance. But rest assured, we'll bring you updates as they roll in – hopefully they'll be positive ones!