Mahershala Ali Is “Encouraged” By Where The 'Blade' Reboot Is Headed

A director switch and cast changes brought on by script overhauls have only been part of what has plagued the film

With deals reached for writing and acting talent that the parties had to strike for, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Blade film is readying itself back into production. Despite all the troubles, star Mahershala Ali seems to indicate things are more than back on track with some great optimism.

The Leave the World Behind actor told Entertainment Weekly “We’re working on it. That’s the best I could tell you. I’m really encouraged with the direction of the project. I think we’ll be back at it relatively soon.” He continues “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. So that’s the extent of what I can tell you.”

The film was originally announced at the very end of Marvel Studios’s 2019 San Diego Comic-Con panel, with only Ali’s attachment to star the only shareable detail. Bassam Tariq was hired in July 2021 as director, and Watchmen’s Stacy Osei-Kuffour was writer. With the convention presenting itself as out of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, Blade was given a November 3, 2023 release date at the studio’s next Hall H panel, detailing the timeline of releases for phases Five and Six. It was soon after that both creatives would exit the project, Tariq exiting in September with filming having been scheduled for that November in Atlanta. The ensuing production pause led to its first delay to September 6, 2024 and pushed Phase Six into 2026. Beau DeMayo was brought on then to write. Yann Demange would be brought in as director in November 2022.

By the time the talent needed to start striking, Michael Starburry had done major rewrites, and Nic Pizzolatto had hitched on. Instead of negotiating, Disney punted at least part of its Marvel slate twice, though of course all of its slate was affected. Blade in particular was moved in June to February 14, 2025, but that’s now held by Captain America: Brave New World, as the second punt last month landed Blade at November 7, 2025, the exact position in the calendar it held originally, but shifted two years. Now Phase Six runs until 2027. It also now appears that the screenplay is being worked on by Logan and Alien: Covenant writer Michael Green. According to Entertainment Weekly’s report, Aaron Pierre is still attached, starring alongside Mia Goth and Delroy Lindo.

Reportedly, previous scripts had gotten to a point where it was filled with life lessons and Blade was somehow relegated to the fourth lead. It so happened (apparently) that the women had taken priority but that felt too derogatory a part of the report that it never felt rights. Those same previous reports said Ali was ready to leave the project altogether, and it seems Green has righted the ship enough to satisfaction.

Sources: Entertainment Weekly, Variety