New Information Comes To Light as Marvel Gives up on Rebooting ‘Blade’

Marvel Studios has faced its fair share of setbacks in recent years, and one of its most anticipated projects has just been pulled from the release slate. For fans eagerly awaiting the return of a beloved character, the news is a disappointment—and a clear sign of just how difficult it’s become for the studio to regain its former momentum. What started with huge expectations and excitement has now turned into another missed opportunity.

Marvel’s Struggles Post-Endgame

The studio has been working hard to overcome what has felt like a creative lull since Avengers: Endgame (2019). Films like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and The Marvels (2023) were met with mixed reviews and box office underperformance, while Disney+ shows like Secret Invasion failed to capture the attention of audiences. Marvel, once a cultural powerhouse, now finds itself in the tricky position of trying to revive fan enthusiasm while juggling multiple high-stakes projects.

This struggle to regain its former glory has led to a shift in strategy, with Marvel scaling back its release schedule. In 2024, the studio only released one major project, Deadpool & Wolverine, which likely also had something to do with the lingering effects of the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Strikes. The reduced focus on quantity, however, didn’t prevent one major project from being scrapped altogether.

A Troubled ‘Blade’ Reboot

Marvel has officially pulled the plug on what would have been a highly anticipated reboot of a character with a deep, fan-favorite history.

Blade had been in development since 2019 and was supposed to bring a fresh take on a figure that had already made his mark in the superhero genre. Mahershala Ali was cast to step into the iconic role, but creative struggles and delays quickly turned the project into a troubled mess.

Reports indicate that the film went through numerous rewrites, with no less than six screenwriters contributing to its development. Directors were swapped in and out, and production was delayed multiple times, frustrating not just fans but also Ali, who was reportedly “incredibly frustrated” with the lack of progress. The film was meant to showcase the darker, grittier side of the MCU, but it struggled to find its direction.

Now, according to The Playlist’s Rodrigo Perez, the project has officially been dropped. “Pencils have been put down, and active development on it has shuttered,” Perez said. While the film has been shelved for now, there is still a chance the character could appear in other Marvel projects. Speculation suggests he may pop up in Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) or in the Midnight Sons storyline, a group of supernatural heroes that might be a better fit for his darker persona.

Interestingly, the character made a brief cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, albeit with Wesley Snipes returning to the role, a nod to the original Blade trilogy. The film humorously referenced the reboot’s troubled development by having Deadpool quip, “There’s only ever going to be one Blade,” before glancing pointedly at the camera.

While fans may still hold out hope for a future appearance, it’s clear that this character’s cinematic journey is anything but straightforward. Marvel’s current direction remains uncertain, but whether Blade ever gets another shot in the MCU is anyone’s guess.