Mahershala Ali Awaits Marvel's Next Move on Blade

Mahershala Ali, cast as the lead for Marvel's Blade reboot in 2019, has restated his commitment to the film despite extended delays, including the departures of directors Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange, multiple script rewrites, and industry strikes. At the Jurassic World Rebirth premiere, Ali emphasized his readiness to begin filming, saying, 'Call Marvel. I'm ready,' indicating he is waiting on the studio to move forward. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has reiterated the company's commitment to the project, though no new production timeline or director has been announced. The repeated setbacks led to Blade being removed from Marvel's release calendar in late 2023. The delays have also affected Marvel's broader film schedule, underscoring the project's importance and substantial challenges. Despite this uncertainty, Ali remains hopeful and is pursuing other opportunities while awaiting progress.