After years of development limbo, Marvel’s highly anticipated Blade reboot is still stuck in production—and its star, Mahershala Ali, seems to be keeping his distance.
While appearing on Vogue’s “Off the Cuff” with fellow Jurassic World Rebirth castmates Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey, Ali was caught off guard when Bailey joked about their shared Marvel experience.
“Leave me out of it,” Ali laughed, deflecting the question. “That’s a Scarlett question.”
Bailey pressed further, teasing “there’s one we’re very excited about,” a subtle reference to Blade. Despite the banter, Ali didn’t expand on the subject, maintaining his now-familiar silence around the long-stalled vampire superhero project.
Blade Remains in Development Limbo
The reboot was first announced with fanfare in 2019, with Ali cast as the iconic daywalking vampire hunter. But since then, the project has suffered multiple delays, creative shakeups, and director exits.
Ali, however, recently told Variety on the red carpet for Jurassic World Rebirth that he’s still on board:
“Call Marvel,” he said. “I’m ready. Let them know I’m ready.”
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige also tried to calm fans during last year’s D23 Brazil, assuring audiences:
“We love the character. We love Mahershala’s take on him… We’re committed to bringing Blade back to the MCU.”
Blade’s Scrapped Assets Repurposed in Other Films
Adding to the saga, it was revealed that costumes originally designed for Blade were repurposed for Ryan Coogler’s film Sinners. According to producer Sev Ohanian, Marvel allowed the production to purchase unused wardrobe items, a sign of how long Blade has been shelved.
“Ruth Carter had a warehouse full of clothes meant for Blade, and Marvel was generous enough to let us use them,” Ohanian said.
Will Blade Ever See the Light?
Despite Marvel’s insistence that Blade remains a priority, fans and industry insiders are increasingly skeptical. The film has now spent over six years in development, with no confirmed start date or finalized script.
Ali, who won Oscars for Moonlight and Green Book, seems to be focusing on other projects for now. And based on his recent comment, he might be just as tired of the Blade conversation as the fans are of waiting.
Final Word
As Blade remains stuck in production purgatory, Mahershala Ali’s playful evasion might say more than he intended. Whether the film eventually makes it to the big screen—or becomes one of Marvel’s most infamous misfires—remains to be seen.
