Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Mahershala Ali Reflects on Marvel’s Failed Blade Reboot
Mahershala Ali was supposed to play Blade in a new Marvel movie.
Marvel announced the project in 2019, but it kept being delayed.
Two directors left, and a writers’ strike also affected the film.
Kevin Feige said he felt like a failure because the movie never got started properly.
Ali said he still does not know exactly why the project fell apart.
He trained hard for a year and even hurt his knee.
His family moved to Atlanta while they waited for filming to begin.
Ali now says the disappointment helped him choose new opportunities and make his own path.
Mahershala Ali said he still does not know why Marvel’s Blade reboot collapsed.
Kevin Feige called failing to make the film with Ali the biggest failure of his career.
The project faced repeated delays, director departures, and the 2023 WGA strike.
Ali trained for a year, injured his knee, moved his family to Atlanta, and waited through repeated postponements.
Ali said the experience ultimately encouraged him to stop waiting and build his own path.
- Who
- Actor Mahershala Ali and Marvel president Kevin Feige discussed the abandoned Blade reboot.
- What
- The planned Blade film starring Ali failed to move forward after years of delays and production problems.
- When
- Marvel announced the project in 2019; it was still being discussed in interviews in 2025.
- Where
- Ali moved his family to Atlanta while waiting for production; Marvel discussed the project at its Burbank headquarters.
- Why
- The articles cite repeated delays, director departures, script concerns, and the 2023 WGA strike, while Feige said Marvel lacked confidence in the script and production plan.
- Project
- A Marvel Blade reboot starring Mahershala Ali
- Announcement
- Marvel confirmed the project at Comic-Con in 2019
- Delays
- The film experienced multiple postponements
- Director departures
- Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange exited the project
- Additional disruption
- The 2023 WGA strike affected the film
- Ali’s preparation
- He trained for a year and injured his knee
- Ali’s relocation
- He moved his family to Atlanta while waiting for production