Why was Marvel’s Blade reboot such a big deal?

When Marvel Studios announced Blade in 2019, it instantly became one of the most exciting future MCU projects. The original trilogy starring Wesley Snipes had cult status, and the idea of bringing the “Daywalker” into the modern MCU felt like a major tonal upgrade.

Marvel also had a massive advantage: Mahershala Ali. With two Oscars and serious screen presence, Ali looked like the perfect successor. Expectations were high that Blade would follow the R-rated path opened by Deadpool, allowing the character’s violent vampire-hunting world to finally feel authentic again.

What happened after Blade was announced in 2019?

Despite the hype, Blade has been stuck in development hell for years. Nearly seven years after Kevin Feige revealed the film at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel still has not delivered a finished product.

Instead of becoming a franchise pillar, the reboot became known for delays, five different writers, and constant uncertainty. Adding insult to injury, Wesley Snipes returned for a massive role in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, meaning the original Blade appeared in the Multiverse Saga before Ali ever did.

Was Blade supposed to be set in the 1920s?

Yes. One of the most surprising details about the reboot came from an entirely different vampire project. In 2025, producer Sev Ohanian revealed that costume designer Ruth E. Carter was able to repurpose unused costumes originally made for Blade for Ryan Coogler’s vampire film Sinners (released March 2025).

This confirms that one version of the script was a period piece set roughly 100 years in the past. If this version had moved forward, Blade would have been a 1920s supernatural thriller—one of the franchise’s most unique visual experiments—rather than a modern-day action movie.

Who was supposed to be the villain in Marvel’s Blade?

Another major casualty of the delays is Mia Goth (Maxxxine). She was attached to play the villain Lilith, described in leaks as the daughter of Dracula who sought the blood of Blade’s daughter.

Introducing Dracula’s bloodline would have set up an entire supernatural corner of the MCU. However, in a December 2025 interview, Goth admitted she “doesn’t know what’s going on” with the project and that it simply “unraveled” after pre-production.

Is Blade cancelled or still happening?

Marvel has not officially confirmed that Blade is cancelled, but the writing is on the wall. According to reliable insiders like Jeff Sneider, the solo film is functionally dead.

Instead, Marvel is reportedly pivoting to a Midnight Sons team-up movie. This strategy allows Mahershala Ali to finally debut as Blade alongside Ghost Rider, Moon Knight, and Black Knight without carrying the weight of a troubled solo production. While this saves the character, it marks the end of the ambitious 1920s epic that fans almost got.