Rumor: Mahershala Ali's Reaction To Blade Delay May Surprise Fans

Key Takeaways

The Blade MCU reboot release date was delayed, leaving fans disappointed but not surprised.
Marvel Studios is still committed to Blade despite setbacks.
Ali allegedly expressed excitement and happiness over Blade’s delay to Disney.

The Blade MCU reboot release date delay disappointed fans but likely didn’t surprise many. However, a new rumor suggests lead actor Mahershala Ali’s reaction to Blade‘s postponement was different than most fans.

Marvel Studios announced it was producing an MCUBlade reboot at San Diego Comic Comic 2019, with Ali stepping on stage in Hall H to declare he will play the titular vampire hunter. However, the Blade MCU reboot has since suffered several setbacks, including losing two directors, going through six writers, and letting go of some actors due to scheduling changes. So when Disney pulled Blade from its November 2025 release without giving it a new date, few were surprised and some even wondered if the project could be canceled or lose Ali as its lead star.

Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch Return May Take Longer Than MCU Fans Want

A Scarlet Witch solo movie centered on Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff may not be on Marvel Studios’ release slate for a long time.

During a recent episode of John Rocha’s The Hot Mic, Jeff Sneider said he thinks Marvel Studios is still committed to making Blade. Sneider added that he heard Marvel Studios was talking to a director who wouldn’t be ready to release Blade next fall. Sneider also doesn’t believe fans must wait until 2028 for Blade to be released. Rocha then added that he heard from a “friend” who allegedly heard Ali on the phone with someone at Disney. According to this friend, Ali said he was still “excited” with Blade and “happy” the company “made this decision,” seemingly referencing the release date delay. This account of Ali’s alleged conversation with Disney has not been confirmed by official sources.

A recent rumor suggested Blade was being pushed aside for Multiverse stories, leading to speculation that it could be released after the Multiverse Saga ends with Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. However, Sneider speculated that Marvel Studios may have thought there were already too many vampire projects from rival studios, especially if rumors of Christopher Nolan’s next movie involving vampires are true. As for Ali’s future as Blade, Sneider said the actor’s continued involvement would “depend on if something else better opes up.” When Rocha proposed a multiverse MCU movie with Wesley Snipes as Blade, Sneider shot the idea down, saying it didn’t sound like something Marvel Studios would do. “And if Mahershala wants to stick around, he’s been on the project long enough, what’s another couple of years to him?” Sneider added. “It would be ice cold to give him the cold shoulder at this point.”

Some fans believe Marvel Studios should cut its losses and cancel the Blade MCU reboot, but others were excited to see a new version of the character with the Academy Award winning-Ali in the role. Recent reports suggest the Blade MCU reboot isn’t canceled, but fans should expect to wait a long time before it’s released.

Marvel Studios’ Blade is in development.

MCU

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.

First Film: Iron Man
Latest Film: Marvels
Cast: Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Chris Hemsworth , Scarlett Johansson , Mark Ruffalo , Jeremy Renner , Chadwick Boseman , Zoe Saldana , Chris Pratt , Tom Hiddleston , Iman Vellani