Blade (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

[Adam Lenhardt]

Title: Blade

Genre: Fantasy

Director: Yann Demange

Cast: Mahershala Ali, Delroy Lindo, Aaron Pierre, Mia Goth

Release: 2025-11-07

Plot: A film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name.

Further confirming that the Marvel Television series (except for "Agent Carter") are not canon in the MCU, Marvel Studios announced today that Mahershala Ali will play the MCU version of Blade.

 

[JimmyO]

I like Ali a lot.

As a nice bonus, he will probably open his eyes if asked to by the director.

 

[Sean Bryan]

Great casting choice for Blade!

Though I wouldn’t say that this is any confirmation that the Netflix shows aren’t actually cannon with the MCU. Alfre Woodard already played two different roles in Civil War and Luke Cage. James Rhodes and Bruce Banner have been recast, etc...

The Netflix shows ultimately may not be. Or they may be revealed to be part of a different (parallel) universe in the MCU Multiverse. But I don’t think this is any type of confirmation either way. I know it’s just a voice for Rocket, but I still hope to see Bradley Cooper play another role in thE MCU.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Obviously, the Netflix shows don't matter to Kevin Feige because he did not produce them. Neither does Agents of SHIELD. Whether they are canon or not doesn't seem to matter that much because they are not affecting what happens in the films in the way that the Disney+ shows will.

 

[Hanson]

It's simply amazing at the caliber of actor the MCU is attracting. 4 Oscars between Portman, Jolie and Ali, and that's just on the Hall H stage . Ali was in Alita and Luke Cage, so he's not averse to genre films. But to call up and say, "I want in, and I want to be Blade" is a testament to the cachet that the MCU has right now.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Marvel is in négociations with Bassan Tariq to direct. Based on what Deadline is reporting, it sounds like Tariq essentially has the job and they're down to working out the deal points with his representatives.

‘Blade’: ‘Mogul Mowgli’ Helmer Bassam Tariq Is Marvel’s Choice To Direct New Film Starring Mahershala Ali As Iconic Vampire Hunter

Sources tell Deadline, Bassam Tariq, best known for directing the Riz Ahmed film Mogul Mowgli, has been tapped to direct the the new adaptation of the popular comic with Mahershala Ali set to play the iconic vampire hunter.

deadline.com

I have no idea who Tariq is and haven't seen his film Deadline references, Mogul Mowgli, which IMDb says came out last year. But Marvel has hired a number of lesser-known directors before who have turned in great movies and become more well-known, so they can certainly do that again. Best of luck to him.

The farthest-out MCU film currently linked to a release date is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on May 5, 2023. Disney has a couple dates in July and August 2023 for which specific films/brands have not been announced yet. There is also an "Untitled Marvel" on November 10, 2023. I would guess Blade is likely to land on one of those dates in the latter half of 2023.

 

[Malcolm R]

Delroy Lindo joins the cast.

https://deadline.com/2021/11/marvel-blade-reboot-casts-delroy-lindo-1234877800/

 

[Jake Lipson]

If they're casting up now, I'm guessing this will end up being released in 2023.

The last thing currently announced that already has a specific release date confirmed is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in July 2023.

Marvel does have The Marvels (February 2023) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 2023) in addition to Quantumania, which gives them a pretty full slate for 2023. But if they want to do four in one year, this could probably slide somewhere in the fall. Until recently, they had a date reserved in October 2023 which was removed from the calendar when they made their most recent release date shuffle a few weeks ago. If they don't go with a fall release, this would almost certainly be on the slate for 2024.

This year is the only time that they have had four movies in a single year, and that was obviously caused by having to play catch up since Black Widow and Eternals weren't able to come out In 2020 as originally planned.

We'll see what happens.

I assume Fantastic 4 will take one of Marvel's release slots in 2024. We know it is in development with Jon Watts directing, and I can't see them passing up the opportunity to release that movie during a year with a 4 in the number. I'm still surprised that MGM passed up the once-in-a-lifetime ready-made opportunity to release Casino Royale in 2007 instead of two months earlier.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Aaron Pierre is joining the cast.

‘Blade’: Aaron Pierre Joins Mahershala Ali In Marvel’s New Pic Centered On The Vampire Hunter

Krypton alum Aaron Pierre is set to co-star opposite Mahershala in Marvel's new Blade pic starring Ali as the iconic vampire hunter.

deadline.com

 

[Alex...]

 

[Joe Wong]

Marvel’s ‘Blade’ Loses Director Bassam Tariq (Exclusive)

The project, which stars Mahershala Ali, was gearing up to shoot in the fall.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[Jake Lipson]

I was just coming in here to post the same thing.

The film is currently scheduled for release on November 3, 2023. If Marvel wants to keep it on that date, it seems like they'll need to lock in a new director fairly quickly.

Interesting that this was announced in the middle of the night hours after the Deadpool news. Marvel would probably prefer the media focus on that.

If Marvel wants a quick fix with a director they already have already worked with, they could ask Ryan Coogler or Sam Raimi. Coogler has to be pretty close to done with Wakanda Forever, although he will have press obligations for it. Raimi already took over Multiverse of Madness midstream after Scott Derrickson's departure, so he could do it again. I would think that Marvel should want to stay in business with both of them. But given the plans leading to Secret Wars it seems unlikely that their existing franchise films will get individual sequels until after that is over.

Of course, I don't actually know what they're doing with Blade so I'm not saying that they would necessarily be the right fit for this material. Just that both of them have already proven the ability to work within Marvel's ecosystem, and Marvel is in a pinch here if they still want to have the production start by November.

 

[Alex...]

 

[Sam Favate]

Ouch. They’re under the gun if they’re going to start in a month or so.

UPDATE: You can bet this means it won't be making that Nov '23 date.

 

[Joe Wong]

An intriguing choice (ignoring whether he is interested or not) is Jordan Peele (as suggested by someone on Twitter).

 

[Josh Dial]

An intriguing choice (ignoring whether he is interested or not) is Jordan Peele (as suggested by someone on Twitter).

I would watch the hell out of that.

 

[Sam Favate]

 

[Jake Lipson]

Despite what the tweet says is the source, I'm not actually seeing that on Variety.

 

[Chip_HT]

It's a bogus account. The username is misspelled, and just about every tweet they have is fake.

 

[Alex...]

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