Mahershala Ali’s Blade movie will not be coming soon. Ali was announced as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Blade actor back in 2019. Since then, the star has only appeared in the franchise through a voice cameo in Eternals. The MCU’s Blade movie has suffered from multiple delays and behind-the-scenes issues. The film is currently without a director, after having lost original director Bassam Tariq in 2022 and replacement Yann Demange in June. Now, the announced MCU movie is looking even further away from happening following a major update.

According to Deadline, Marvel has delayed Blade indefinitely, taking the MCU movie off its previously scheduled November 7, 2025, slot. Predator: Badlands will now debut in Blade’s previous slot. Marvel Studios has also set three dates for untitled MCU movies planned for February 18, 2028, May 5, 2028, and November 10, 2028. After having faced multiple delays, it seemed unlikely that Blade would meet its release date, and Marvel has finally confirmed what was expected, with Blade now off the MCU’s schedule for 2025, which could lead to Blade losing cast members and more.

What Blade’s Release Slate Removal Means
Blade’s MCU Debut Could Take Some Time

Blade’s delay comes as no surprise. The MCU has three other films scheduled for release in 2025. While Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* have finished filming and The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently in production, Blade is still without a director and no start date in sight. The movie had already been delayed multiple times, lost major cast members, and had reports claiming that star Mahershala Ali was growing frustrated with the process and previous versions of the film’s script.

Related How Blade’s Movie Delays Could Make Wesley Snipes MCU Return Dreams Come True Blade has been delayed a few times by Marvel, giving them the opportunity to let Wesley Snipes come back as the character for the upcoming MCU movie.

Delaying the film so that Marvel can get the best possible version of Blade on the big screen is a fine choice. However, at 50, Ali is not growing any younger, which could lead to Marvel having to recast Blade before he debuts. There are two release dates for untitled MCU movies: February 13 and November 6, 2026. Blade could be delayed by a year, taking that November slot. However, Marvel might already have films for those slots, like Doctor Strange 3, and since Blade is not crucial to the Multiverse Saga, it could be delayed even further.

Our Take On Marvel Removing Blade From The MCU Release Slate
It Is Not Looking Good For Mahershala Ali

I believe that if Marvel had plans to move Blade to any of the studio’s 2026 slots, that would have been announced. Instead, it is looking more likely that the MCU movie will be held back until the Multiverse Saga concludes on May 7, 2027, with the release of Avengers: Secret Wars. At 50 and having waited since 2019 to star in the Blade movie, I fear that Ali will grow tired and depart the project. That said, the character could easily debut after the Multiverse Saga is over, so Blade being delayed indefinitely is not the most shocking choice.

Marvel Studios’ Blade sees the return of the iconic vampire hunter more than two decades after Wesley Snipes first played the character in live-action. Starring Mahershala Ali as Eric Brooks, the Blade reboot officially introduces vampires to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Eternals’ second post-credits scene teased the Daywalker’s MCU debut.

All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies

Source: Deadline