Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali is finally feeling optimistic about Marvel’s highly-anticipated Blade reboot, after previous reports suggesting that he was close to leaving his leading role entirely.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ali gave an update on Marvel’s super-vampire movie. “We’re working on it. That’s the best I could tell you,” the actor says. “I’m really encouraged with the direction of the project. I think we’ll be back at it relatively soon.
Announced in 2019 without a release date or director attached, Blade has since weathered its myriad of problems. Besides a reported unconventionally small budget of under US$100 million, its script went through countless revisions, and cycled through at least five writers and two directors. At one point, the film had reportedly been struggling to pin a direction for its story, which left Ali re-evaluating his association with the film.
After dealing with numerous drafts and screenwriters, Blade finally landed on Logan and Alien: Covenant writer Michael Green, which will also reportedly star Aaron Pierre, Delroy Lindo, and Mia Goth.
“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,” Ali reiterated. “So that’s the extent of what I can tell you.”
Marvel’s Blade is now expected to premiere on 7 November 2025. Ali made a brief voice cameo as Blade in the post-credits scene of 2021’s Eternals. He’ll next star in Leave the World Behind, which hits Netflix today.
Everything changed when his parents bought him a PlayStation 2 for Christmas. Since then, he’s been hooked on all things esports, video games, and music. If he’s not livestreaming his shenanigans, he’s probably out taking mirror-selfies with his friends, vigorously debating over the Internet’s Meme of the Year.
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