The long-awaited Blade movie, set to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), appears to have hit a dead end. Despite initial excitement, the project has encountered numerous obstacles over the years, leading to its current state of limbo. The absence of Mahershala Ali as the iconic Daywalker is perhaps the most significant loss for fans eagerly anticipating this film.
Rapper and artist Flying Lotus recently shared on X / Twitter that he had been involved in the project, tasked with composing music for the film. "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 said. Flying Lotus, who recently directed the sci-fi horror film ASH for Shudder, expressed doubts about the project's revival but noted it would have been an exciting endeavor.
Just a day before Flying Lotus's revelation, costume designer Ruth E. Carter, known for her work on Sinners, confirmed on The John Campea Show that she had been set to design costumes for Blade. She revealed that the film was initially planned to be set in the 1920s, promising unique and captivating costume and production designs.
Adding to the series of setbacks, actor Delroy Lindo, who was also slated to star alongside Mahershala Ali, discussed the project's collapse in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Lindo mentioned that Marvel had initially shown great interest in his contributions and the film's concept was promising. "And then, for whatever reason, it just went off the rails," he lamented.
Announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, Blade was supposed to hit theaters in November of this year if all had gone according to plan. The film has seen multiple directors come and go, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, but none have managed to bring the project to fruition.
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Despite the film being removed from Marvel's release schedule in October 2024, it's astonishing to think that it has only been six months since that decision. No new release date has been confirmed. However, MCU boss Kevin Feige remains optimistic. In an interview with Omelete in November 2024, he stated, "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. But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU."
