Marvel Studios has officially removed Blade from its 2025 release schedule, a decision that reflects the ongoing production struggles surrounding the film. Originally announced for a 2024 release, then pushed to November 2025, the reboot—starring Mahershala Ali—has been stuck in development limbo for years. Disney’s decision to remove it from their release slate now throws the future of the Blade franchise into further uncertainty.
The production difficulties for Blade have been well-documented, with a carousel of writers and directors unable to nail down the project. “For the last few years, we’ve been trying to crack that movie,” said Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige earlier this year. “I think the most important thing for us is not rushing it and making sure that we’re making the right Blade movie because there were some great Blade movies years ago.” Feige’s comments refer to the 90s and early 2000s trilogy starring Wesley Snipes, which set a high bar for any future iterations of the character.
Mahershala Ali, an Academy Award-winning actor known for Moonlight, was attached to the role of the day-walking vampire hunter in 2019, raising fan expectations. But the production soon ran into issues, losing multiple directors and writers, including Stacy Osei-Kaffeur, Michael Starbury, Bassam Tariq, and most recently, Yann Demange. Mia Goth (Pearl) was cast alongside Ali, but even her involvement couldn’t prevent the project from stalling.
The final nail in the coffin came on October 22, when Marvel officially pulled Blade from the 2025 slate. As reported by Deadline, Disney replaced it with Predator: Badlands, a follow-up to 2022’s Prey, directed by Dan Trachtenberg.
“In what comes as no surprise, Marvel Studios’ Blade won’t be coming out on November 7, 2025; rather, Disney is opening 20th Century Studios’ Predator: Badlands,” wrote Deadline. While fans of the Predator series can look forward to this new addition, the news left Blade fans disappointed and uncertain about when the character might join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Despite the film’s removal, there’s still hope for Blade to land a future release date. Marvel has several open slots in its 2026 and 2027 calendar, with a similar November date in 2027 looking like a possible home for the film. “Blade fans, while satiated with Wesley Snipes’ return to the big screen in this year’s billion-dollar hit Deadpool & Wolverine, will surely be disappointed that the daywalker won’t enter the MCU anytime soon,” Inside the Magic reported. For fans, Snipes’ return in Deadpool & Wolverine might offer some consolation, but it’s clear that Marvel is still struggling to find the right formula for Ali’s Blade.
In a broader context, Blade‘s delay is part of a larger strategy shift for Marvel. Disney CEO Bob Iger recently confirmed a new release policy that limits Marvel’s output to no more than three films and two Disney+ series per year. These new restrictions are meant to combat a period of creative fatigue within the MCU, ensuring that future projects receive more focused attention. Feige’s decision to hold off on Blade seems to be in line with this new cautious approach.
Looking ahead, Marvel’s Phase Five will still conclude with Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* in 2025, followed by The Fantastic Four: The First Steps in July. Though Blade won’t be included, Feige has hinted that Phase Seven will kick off with the highly anticipated Avengers: Secret Wars in May 2027, and Blade could yet find a place in the lineup of films that follow.
Ultimately, while Blade‘s future remains unclear, it seems that Marvel is taking the time to ensure that the film lives up to its predecessor’s legacy. For now, fans will have to wait a little longer for the daywalker to make his MCU debut.
How do you feel now that Blade‘s fate has been confirmed? Let us know in the comments below!