The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly expanding, both on the big screen and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. There are a number of upcoming Marvel movies either announced or in development, but they don't all actually see the light of day. Case in point: the scrapped Blade movie, with Mahershala Ali recently getting real about what went wrong on its failed road to theaters.
Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were hyped when the MCU Blade movie was announced at Comic-Con back in 2019, but the movie sat in development hell for years. During a recent interview with GQ Ali addressed the project's fate. When asked if there's any hope of the new Blade movie, he said:
Not with me. The best way I can answer this question is, when I look at what is for me, is it was either this or that—and I'll take this. No offense to them. I've been doing this professionally for pushing 30 years now, and one thing I've learned is that what is for you is for you and what is not is not. For whatever reason, that project is not for me. If they wanted to do it, we would've done it.
This type of honesty is refreshing. While Marvel is known for its tight security, the Oscar-winning actor had shared his perspective, seemingly blaming the studio for his Blade movie never coming to fruition. Mahershala Ali's casting broke the internet and seemed like a perfect fit, but now it looks like he'll never actually get the chance to play The Daywalker on the big screen.
Blade never being produced is a bummer, especially since the studio has seemingly setting up his entrance into the MCU for years. Ali's voice made a brief cameo in Eternals, and Blade also appeared in the most recent season of What If...? on Disney+. Later in the same interview, the Green Book star went on to say:
So I have to move on, and I have moved on. Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother feels very much in alignment with the type of work I want to be known for. I don't really want to be known for remakes. I’d love to do original work that resonates with people and impacts them in unique ways.
It certainly sounds like Mahershala Ali has closed that chapter in his life. He's not going to be playing Blade in the MCU, and is instead focused on filming original works like his upcoming action movie Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.
It should be interesting to see if/how Marvel utilizes Blade now that Ali will no longer be playing him. Wesley Snipes reprised his role in Deadpool & Wolverine, but he's not expected to jump back in with a solo movie. We'll just have to wait and see how things shake out with that vampiric hero.
The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Avengers: Doomsday on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Mahershala Ali, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother will be released on September 25th.
