Mahershala Ali is still waiting to suit up as the vampire slayer in Blade, he just needs Marvel to give him the green light.
During the New York premiere of his new film Jurassic World Rebirth on Monday, June 23, the Oscar-winning actor was asked when the long-delayed project would finally begin filming.
“Call Marvel,” Ali told Variety. “I’m ready. Let them know I’m ready.”
As previously reported, Marvel Studios first announced the Blade reboot in July 2019 during its Marvel Cinematic Universe presentation at Comic-Con San Diego.
Related: Wesley Snipes Gloats Over Setbacks Plaguing ‘Blade’ Reboot
Mahershala Ali on when he’ll start filming “Blade”: “Call Marvel, let them know I’m ready.” #JurassicWorld pic.twitter.com/24v8yPI7fm
— Variety (@Variety) June 23, 2025
Other titles like WandaVision, Loki, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier were announced at the same presentation. While those projects have since been released, Blade remains in limbo.
The project has faced several setbacks. Back in 2023, Variety reported the problem-plagued film had “gone through at least five writers, two directors and one shutdown six weeks before production.”
Last October, Disney pulled Blade from its schedule, removing the film from its Nov. 7, 2025 release date. The original release date was Nov. 3, 2023.
In June 2024, TheWrap reported veteran Marvel screenwriter Eric Pearson (The Fantastic Four and Black Widow) was brought in to try and salvage the project. The outlet said Ali, who won Academy Awards for Moonlight and Green Book, is still attached to the film.
Wesley Snipes starred in the original Blade trilogy, which launched in 1998 and included sequels in 2002 and 2004. The franchise has earned $416.9 million globally, according to The-Numbers.com.
According to published reports, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige is “still committed” to Blade.
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