Production on Mahershala Ali’s highly anticipated Blade movie has hit another series of obstacles, as the film faces indefinite delays due to repeated script rewrites and multiple director changes, leaving both Marvel Studios and devoted fans anxious about its uncertain future. The movie, which was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019 with Mahershala Ali set to play the infamous daywalker, now finds itself mired in confusion, with ongoing setbacks casting doubt on whether it will ever see release.
Ever since Mahershala Ali was revealed as the new Blade, expectations have soared for the film to reinvigorate the character and expand the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, persistent production delays have led many to question Marvel’s ability to deliver on those hopes. The situation has become so turbulent that even David S. Goyer, the writer who originally brought Blade to the big screen in 1998, has publicly expressed bewilderment and concern. Speaking with ScreenRant, Goyer acknowledged the confusion, saying he too is “puzzled” by the repeated stalls, and admitted,
Goyer went so far as to offer his help, jokingly urging Marvel Studios to “Give me a call.”
David S. Goyer’s connection to Blade runs deep, with his screenwriting forming the backbone of the original Wesley Snipes-led trilogy. The first Blade premiered in 1998, helping to establish Marvel as a force in the film industry. Despite mixed reviews, it found fans and achieved box office success, grossing $70 million domestically and $131.2 million worldwide on a $45 million budget. Its dark aesthetics and vampire-slaying action paved the way for later Marvel projects like X-Men and Spider-Man, giving the character—and the franchise—significant cultural weight.
The momentum continued with 2002’s Blade II, directed by Guillermo del Toro and penned again by Goyer. This sequel, which earned $80 million domestically and $155 million internationally, surpassed the first film’s financial success, even as reviews remained mixed. Del Toro’s distinct style and Goyer’s script combined to win admiration from fans and critics who praised the energetic, stylish sequel. With every installment, Mahershala Ali’s upcoming portrayal in Blade carried growing expectations to live up to the original’s legacy.
The trilogy concluded with 2004’s Blade: Trinity, which saw Goyer both writing and directing. Production on Trinity was notably troubled, as rumors about disagreements and on-set conflicts with Wesley Snipes started to leak. The final chapter in the Snipes trilogy failed to match the critical or financial success of its predecessors, grossing only $52 million domestically and $132 million globally against a $65 million budget. This turbulent production has cast a long shadow, one that now seems to echo through Mahershala Ali’s latest attempt to resurrect Blade.
The current iteration of Mahershala Ali’s Blade has encountered similar, if not greater, challenges. Various reports indicate that more than one version of the script has been written by different writers, but none have managed to move the project forward. Some script drafts allegedly shifted the story to the 1920s as a period piece, while other attempts have resulted in changes to the supporting cast or led to the departure of actors such as Delroy Lindo. These frustrations have contributed to a widespread sense of unease surrounding the project, leaving Mahershala Ali’s awaited performance in jeopardy.
Meanwhile, fan disappointment continues to intensify as news of setbacks grows more frequent. The delays have become so concerning that David S. Goyer’s public offer to return as a writer can be seen as both a plea for intervention and a commentary on the disappointing state of the project. His remarks add to a chorus of voices worried that Mahershala Ali’s Blade may never come to fruition unless decisive creative leadership is established soon.
The ongoing production woes reflect a deeper instability within Marvel’s efforts to resurrect Blade through Mahershala Ali’s portrayal. For many, the constant turmoil not only threatens to undermine the legacy of an influential franchise, but also risks wasting an opportunity to revitalize both the character and the wider Marvel universe. Unless new solutions are quickly found, the path forward for Mahershala Ali’s Blade movie remains murky, leaving fans and creators alike in a state of conflicted anticipation and mounting frustration about the film’s future.
