Oh God! Here we go again. What we feared has finally happened—Marvel has once again delayed Mahershala Ali’s Blade indefinitely. The movie was originally set to release on November 7, 2025. However, that slot has now been given to Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands.
Believe it or not, Marvel officially announced Ali as the new Blade in 2019, almost half a decade ago! Since then, the Academy Award-winning actor has only appeared in the MCU through a voice cameo in the post-credits scene of Eternals (2021). What was expected to be one of the most exciting projects has turned into a chaotic mess. The MCU’s Blade film still hasn’t secured a director. The project has already lost two helmers, with original helmer Bassam Tariq departing in 2022, followed by his replacement Yann Demange later that year.
Another reason for the release delay of Blade is that Ali was unhappy with the movie’s early scripts. The script has undergone multiple revisions, yet the actor remains dissatisfied. This increases the likelihood of Ali leaving the project, given the multiple delays and his advancing age—he is 50 now. By the time he starts shooting the film, it might be too late, as the film is not even scheduled for release in 2025. At this point, we just don’t know how long he will be able to stay with Marvel. This scenario could ultimately force the studio to recast the character.
Moreover, Blade could work as a standalone project, but it does not really fit into the Multiverse Saga when viewed from a distance. This suggests it could be delayed further. Not going to lie, guys! The way Marvel has fumbled with Mahershala Ali’s Blade needs to be studied.
It seems increasingly likely that the MCU’s Blade will be postponed until the Multiverse Saga wraps up on May 7, 2027, with the release of Avengers: Secret Wars. By that time, we could see Mahershala Ali departing from the project. Stay tuned for more updates.