Mahershala Ali's Blade Film Project Reportedly Shelved

The highly anticipated Blade movie, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has hit a major roadblock, and it seems the project has officially stalled with little hope of revival. This means fans won't see Mahershala Ali embodying the iconic Daywalker, which many consider a significant loss for the MCU.

Rapper and artist Flying Lotus, known for his recent work directing Shudder's sci-fi horror ASH, shared his involvement in the project on X / Twitter. He revealed that he was set to compose the music for Blade before the project fell through. "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, expressing doubt about its revival but noting it would have been a fun endeavor.

Adding to the disappointment, renowned costume designer Ruth E. Carter confirmed during an appearance on The John Campea Show that she was tasked with designing costumes for Blade. She revealed the film was to be set in the 1920s, promising visually striking costumes and production design.

Actor Delroy Lindo, who was also attached to star in the film alongside Ali, shared his perspective on the project's collapse with Entertainment Weekly. He described initial excitement about Marvel's inclusivity and the character development, but lamented how things "just went off the rails."

Blade was first announced at San Diego Comic Con in 2019, and if everything had gone according to plan, fans would have been eagerly awaiting its release this November. The project has seen multiple directors come and go, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, without any sticking to the end.

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Despite the setbacks, it's been just six months since Blade was removed from Marvel's release schedule in October 2024. While no new release date has been confirmed, MCU boss Kevin Feige remains optimistic. In an interview with Omelete in November 2024, he reaffirmed the studio's commitment to bringing Blade to the MCU, emphasizing their love for the character and Mahershala Ali's interpretation of him. "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," Feige stated, assuring fans that Blade will indeed make it to the MCU.