Most nerds remember where they were on July 20, 2019. Chaos erupted on social media when the Marvel Studios’ Hall H panel at San Diego Comic Con closed things out with a bang by revealing Mahershala Ali as the next Blade following the legacy of Wesley Snipes. It was a gesture as simple as putting on a hat that displayed the new Blade logo and then boom — pitch blackness as the crowd burst into a loud choir of screams and clapping.
That was five years ago and still fans are left with nothing. The film has taken hits left and right from losing two directors (first Yann Demange, the later Bassam Tariq), to the writer’s strike in 2023, causing production delays. After facing so many setbacks, fans began to speculate whether Blade would even see the light of day.
Let’s take things back to 1998, as the beloved daywalker became the first Marvel character to grace the big screen. After making a name for himself in hits like White Men Can’t Jump, Money Train, and Demolition Man, Wesley Snipes cast as Blade made history. The franchise went on to see two additional films, the third being titled Blade Trinity, featuring Ryan Reynolds in one of his first big action roles. Twenty years later, Reynolds called on Snipes to return as the vampire slayer in Deadpool & Wolverine, leading to one of the biggest surprises of the film. The reactions on X (formerly Twitter) have mostly been positive of Snipes’ under-wraps return, reigniting the desire for more Blade, some even going as far as to hope the actor returns to the title character.
It’s important to note that while some of the most popular characters such as Spider-Man, Superman, and Batman have all seen multiple actors don the costume, there has only ever been one Blade (as Wesley Snipes said in Deadpool & Wolverine). However, since the character is quite popular and unique, it’s the studios duty to continue the journey on screen.
Enter Mahershala Ali, best known for being 2/2 in winning Oscars for his supporting roles in 2017’s Moonlight and 2019’s Green Book. He has the look as well as the talent, so it’s no doubt he would do the role justice. Snipes himself has even gone on record stating he has “great confidence” in Ali. A question of age has also been a topic of conversation, pointing to Ali being 50. Snipes was only 36 in the first installment and 42 when the trilogy came to a close.
It can be argued that 50 is too old to begin a new franchise, if that’s indeed what they were looking to do. Robert Downey Jr. is one of the older actors to play a Marvel character, but even he was only 42 when he began filming Iron Man. He was 53 when Tony Stark was last seen in Avengers: End Game. A quick search can lead you to see some have fan casted Trevante Rhodes instead of Ali, seeing how he checks off the boxes appearance and appropriate age.
Let’s shine light on why Blade needs to happen. It’s hard to ignore the excitement from fans seeing Snipes back, further putting the pressure on Marvel Studios to make the fourth film. But it’s deeper than that. Before the MCU was a thing, there was Blade. Before there were fandoms running to the theater, there was Blade. Snipes is finally being given his flowers for starting comic book adaptations of Marvel characters, and it’s well deserved.
Black Panther came along and Chadwick Boseman started a movement while bringing to life another character that had not been seen on the big screen. Young Black boys and girls everywhere were dressing up as Black Panther and Shuri, as they were not used to seeing themselves reflected in superhero movies. Black Panther was more than a movie, it was a moment in pop culture for the Black community. Box office records broke and memorabilia and toys were selling out left and right. Some argued we’d never see anything like that happen again, especially after the shocking loss of Boseman in August 2020. That energy very well can be ignited again, and Ali draping the black leather trench on could lead to just that.
All in all, despite the numerous blows the Blade facing the reboot, it is still slotted for a release date of November 7, 2025, with Ali still attached to the project. It’s clear as day that the fans want this movie to happen, and the Black community deserves it as well. Though it is highly unlikely that Snipes would return in the role for a full film, our minds definitely wandered. Kevin Feige is a man with a proven record of knowing how to do his job. He does it very well and is successful. His moves are calculated, and he ultimately gives audiences what they want. After seeing our reactions to Deadpool & Wolverine, the people have spoken: we want Blade.