Just like Edgar Wright’s version of Ant-Man, the MCU’s Blade reboot seems to be lost in the ether, as the film’s production had been hit with so many delays that Marvel Studios pulled the film’s release indefinitely. Delroy Lindo, who was once attached to star in the movie, opposite Mahershala Ali as the titular Daywalker, recently opened up about how exciting the early vision for the movie was, before the production went “off the rails,” as they put it.
During a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly to promote the upcoming horror film Sinners (starring Michael B. Jordan and directed by Ryan Coogler), Delroy Lindo looked back on his brief time working on the MCU’s Blade reboot. “When Marvel came to me, they seemed to be really interested in my input,” the actor began. Kevin Feige first announced Blade’s reboot, starring Mahershala Ali, way back in 2019. While some of the delays were a result of external factors, like the COVID pandemic and the joint SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, the film has also had its own internal struggles.

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Delroy Lindo didn’t dive too deeply into what went wrong, as the actor officially departed the film back in October last year when its release date was pulled by Marvel Studios. However, they did tease audiences by detailing how exciting the early days of the project’s infancy were, and what could have been. “And in the various conversations I had with producers, the writer, the director at the time, it was all leading into being very inclusive,” Delroy explained, continuing:

“It was really exciting conceptually, but it was also exciting in terms of the character that was going to form. And then, for whatever reason, it just went off the rails.”

Will ‘Blade’ Ever Be Released?

Marvel

Blade hasn’t been flat-out canceled by Marvel Studios. However, the film has been shelved indefinitely, with no future release date or production deadline in sight. This is usually a death sentence for a movie or show, and can sometimes happen even after a film is completed, as fans of DC’s Batgirl learned the hard way. But, there is still hope for the project.
Mahershala Ali is still attached to star as Blade, a casting decision which many fans are excited about. It will take a lot to live up to Wesley Snipes’ iconic portrayal in the original trilogy, but a two-time Oscar-winning actor is certainly a strong contender. Contemporary horror icon Mia Goth is also still attached to star in the film. Her character hasn’t yet been revealed, but fans are speculating that she will be playing the movie’s villain, Lilith. But, at the time of writing, there is currently no captain at the wheel of the ship. After Yann Demange left the film last June, Marvel Studios hasn’t been able to find a replacement director. Some rumors suggest that the studio is actively hunting for someone to take on the film, while others believe that Marvel is no longer interested in making Blade.
Source: Entertainment Weekly

Blade (2025)

Release Date

November 7, 2025

Director

Bassam Tariq

Writers

Stacy Osei-Kuffour

Franchise(s)

Marvel Cinematic Universe