It’s been a little over four years since Marvel Studios first announced that Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali (Luke Cage, Alita: Battle Angel) would star in the upcoming MCU reboot of the Blade film franchise. Unfortunately, the production has hit many stumbling blocks, including multiple changes in directors, writers, and delays. However, Ali recently provided a promising update for the reboot while speaking to Entertainment Weekly that indicates that the new Blade movie could finally be back on track.
MAHERSHALA ALI IS ENCOURAGED BY NEW DIRECTION FOR THE BLADE REBOOT
While promoting the release of his recent Netflix original feature, Leave the World Behind, Ali informed EW, “We’re working on it. That’s the best I could tell you. I’m really encouraged with the direction of the project. I think we’ll be back at it relatively soon.” The actor continued, “I’m sincerely encouraged in terms of where things are at and who’s on board and who’s leading the way as far as the writing of the script and the directing and all that. So that’s the extent of what I can tell you.”
That’s probably some of the better news heard more recently regarding the project, which has undergone repeated delays for one reason or another. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was initially scheduled for a November 2023 release. However, shortly before the movie was supposed to start shooting in the fall of 2022 in Atlanta, the original director, Bassam Tariq, mysteriously left the project.
At the time, Marvel studios said Tariq’s exit was “due to continued shifts in our production schedule.” Later on, Lovecraft Country veteran Yann Demange signed on to replace Tariq, with September 2024 targeted as the film’s new release date. However, the film was halted during pre-production earlier in May due to delays caused by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) labor dispute against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
The latest delay caused another shuffle in Marvel Studios’ film slate, with the film now moving to November 2025 for its latest release date. The film also reportedly underwent numerous rewrites and experienced behind-the-scenes drama, but it looks like things are back on track with Michael Green attached as the current writer. Demange has also stayed on board through the multiple production shifts.
There were some fairly wild rumors regarding the film’s pre-production phase. Jeff Sneider claimed on The Hot Mic Podcast that the film’s production was shut down six weeks before cameras were supposed to start rolling due to the film’s reportedly lackluster script. Even Ali was rumored not to be happy with the results.
Marvel let the previous writer and director (Tariq) to be let go. Sneider later reported that the executive in charge of overseeing Blade later exited the company, and the executive was said to have been blamed for not warning Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige and other executives about the various issues.
Ali initially made an offscreen vocal cameo as Blade in the 2021 movie, Eternals. The vampire hunter was previously portrayed by Wesley Snipes in three R-rated live-action film adaptations. Aaron Pierre, Delroy Lindo, and Mia Goth are all reportedly attached to star in the reboot opposite Ali. Blade is currently due out in theaters on Nov. 7, 2025.
What do you think of the news? Is this a good sign of Marvel’s Blade reboot getting back on track? Do you think it will finally come to fruition? Let us know your thoughts on Mahershala Ali’s Blade comments on our social media.
SOURCE: Entertainment Weekly
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