Marvel Studios and Disney on Tuesday quietly removed the long-delayed Blade reboot, which was due to hit theaters on Nov. 7, 2025, from the release schedule, angering fans.
At 50, two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali is only 12 years older than the original star. Wesley Snipes, but he is half vampire, vampire hunter Eric Brooks signed to replace him five years ago.
'We are working on it. That's all I can tell you,” Mahershala (born Mahershalalhashbass) updated EW on December 5.
'I feel very encouraged by the direction of the project. I think we will return relatively soon.
Ali made his MCU debut in 2016 as Cornell 'Cottonmouth' Stokes. Netflix series Luke Cage, and provided an off-camera voiceover line as Blade for the post-credits scene of the failed 2021 Marvel franchise, The Eternals.
Marvel Studios and Disney on Tuesday angered fans by removing their long-delayed Blade reboot, which was scheduled to hit theaters on Nov. 7, 2025, from the release schedule.
At 50, two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (pictured March 10) is only 12 years older than original star Wesley Snipes, but signed on five years ago to replace him as half-vampire and vampire hunter Eric Brooks.
Fans can thank Ryan Reynolds after Shawn Levy recast Wesley as Blade. The critically acclaimed blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine grossed $1.337 billion at the global box office.
“There is only one sword,” the Independent Spirit Award nominee warns menacingly at gunpoint. “There will only be one sword.”
The brilliant Canadian, who turns 48 on Wednesday, is running a social media campaign in August to get Snipes a “Logan-style send-off,” just as Wolverine's friend Hugh Jackman did.
Ryan, who has 122.6 million followers on social media, tweeted: 'There is no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade. He's daddy Marvel.'
With Deadpool and Wolverine, Wesley broke two Guinness World Records: the longest run as a live-action Marvel character (1998's Blade) and the longest gap between character appearances (2004's Blade: Trinity).
Reaction to the news on Tuesday was with fans calling for Snipes to return to the 'Cursed' movie and accusing Marvel of 'dirtying Mahershala Ali.'
Instagram user @its.beezy_ commented on the news: “I'm sure Wesley put a curse on this movie.”
“It is painful to see Maharshala being disrespected like this.” [for real]' wrote Instagram user @jpeeezy_.
Mahershala made his MCU debut as Cornell 'Cottonmouth' Stokes in the 2016 Netflix series Luke Cage, and provided an off-camera voiceover line as Blade for the post-credits scene of the failed 2021 Marvel franchise. , Eternals (pictured).
Fans can thank Ryan Reynolds (2-R) for sparking renewed interest in Wesley (2-L) as Blade in Shawn Levy's critically acclaimed box office hit Deadpool & Wolverine, which grossed $1.337 billion at the global box office.
“There is only one sword,” the Independent Spirit Award nominee warns menacingly at gunpoint. “There is always only one sword”
The brilliant Canadian, who turns 48 on Wednesday, is running a social media campaign in August to get Snipes a “Logan-style send-off,” just like Wolverine's friend Hugh Jackman did.
With Deadpool and Wolverine, Wesley broke two Guinness World Records: the longest run as a live-action Marvel character (1998's Blade) and the longest gap between character appearances (2004's Blade: Trinity).
Reaction to Tuesday's news was swift, with fans demanding Snipes return to the “cursed” movie and accusing Marvel of “dirtying Mahershala Ali.”
Instagram user @jasonn2255_ wrote: 'Bring back Wesley Snipes!'
“It is painful to see Maharshala being disrespected like this.” [for real]' wrote Instagram user @jpeeezy_. “Oscar winner, incredible actor and they couldn't have perfected the script and production”
![Instagram user @vibeworldx agreed: '[To be honest] I like Wesley Snipes, but Mahershala earned the role like no other. The guy is an Oscar winner and I love him as Blade. Wesley already did a good job and I'm ready for a new explanation.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/10/22/21/91158889-13988883-Instagram_user_vibeworldx_agreed_To_be_honest_I_like_Wesley_Snip-a-27_1729627335394.jpg)
Instagram user @vibeworldx agreed: '[To be honest] I like Wesley Snipes, but Mahershala earned the role like no other. The guy is an Oscar winner and I love him as Blade. Wesley already did a good job and I'm ready for a new explanation.
'How come Ali hasn't left yet? He is already 50 years old. Dude's not getting any younger,” commented @there_will_be_josh.
Instagram user @jasito1985 noted: 'His @deadpool quote is still alive'
“Oscar winner, incredible actor and they couldn't have perfected the script and the production.”
Instagram user @vibeworldx agreed: '[To be honest] I like Wesley Snipes, but Mahershala earned the role like no other. The guy is an Oscar winner and I love him as Blade. Wesley already did a good job and I'm ready for a new explanation.
'How come Ali hasn't left yet? He is already 50 years old. Dude's not getting any younger,” commented @there_will_be_josh.
Instagram user @jasito1985 noted, “His @deadpool quote lives on.”
The Blade reboot was plagued by delays, setbacks and strikes, with director Bassam Tariq leaving in 2022 and then being replaced by Yann Demange, who left the troubled film in June.
Transformers One writer Eric Pearson was hired after the deaths of Michael Green, Stacey Osi-Kuffor, Michael Starbury, Beau DiMaio and Nick Pizzolatto.
