Mahershala Ali Admits He Doesn’t “Know Where Marvel Is at Right Now” After ‘Blade’ Delays

Mahershala Ali Is Still Waiting… and He’s Clearly Frustrated

Mahershala Ali, who was officially announced as Marvel’s Blade back in 2019, still hasn’t stepped on set. During a recent press interview, he openly said, “Call Marvel, tell them I’m ready,” before adding, “I don’t know where Marvel is at right now.” That bluntness tells you everything you need to know about the current state of this long-delayed Marvel reboot.

Ali’s still clearly passionate about the Blade character, but after years of stalled development and reshuffling behind the scenes, even he seems unsure if the project is moving forward. Fans are left wondering: if the Oscar-winning actor is this confused, what hope is there for this movie?

A Messy Reboot Stuck in Development Hell

The Blade reboot is officially in development hell. Originally set to begin production in 2021, it’s now been through multiple directors, countless rewrites, and conflicting visions. First, Bassam Tariq exited. Then Yann Demange stepped in and left just as quickly. Writers like Stacy Osei-Kuffour and Nic Pizzolatto (True Detective) tried their hand at scripts, but nothing has stuck. Marvel later hired Michael Green, who wrote Logan, to take over—but fans still haven’t seen any progress.

At one point, rumors swirled that Blade had been pushed to the background of his own movie, appearing more like a supporting character to a new team of female leads. It’s said that Ali rejected that idea outright, demanding a version where Blade is front and center. Even his attorney publicly called this project “the craziest thing” she’s dealt with—proof of just how chaotic the development has been.

Where’s Marvel At?

Ali’s quote, “I don’t know where Marvel is at right now,” echoes what many fans and insiders are thinking. Marvel Studios, once known for its airtight plans and perfect rollouts, has been stumbling lately. With delays, reshoots, and a growing list of underperforming MCU projects, many are starting to question if the post-Endgame Marvel phase has lost direction.

Kevin Feige claims that Blade is still happening and that the studio “wants to get it right.” But after six years of announcements and no footage, faith is wearing thin. The film was removed from Marvel’s 2025 schedule with no new release date in sight.

Blade Deserves Better—And So Does Mahershala Ali

This delay isn’t just frustrating for fans—it’s borderline disrespectful to an actor of Ali’s caliber. He’s said to have seen this role as his own “Black Panther” moment—a bold, cultural statement that would give a Black vampire hunter the spotlight he deserves. It’s no wonder he’s stayed involved this long. But at some point, even Mahershala Ali might walk away, and if that happens, Marvel risks losing not only their star but the credibility of the reboot altogether.

Ali has always picked his roles carefully—Moonlight, Green Book, True Detective—and he doesn’t waste time on half-baked projects. If he’s still holding out hope, it means something. But make no mistake: this window won’t stay open forever.

Final Word

At this point, Marvel’s Blade reboot has become the MCU’s most delayed and most uncertain project. When Mahershala Ali says, “Call Marvel, tell them I’m ready,” it’s funny—but it’s also a red flag. When he follows it up with “I don’t know where Marvel is at right now,” that’s when it becomes a problem. If Marvel Studios can’t pull this together soon, they risk not just losing momentum, but losing one of the best actors they’ve ever cast.

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