The phrase “Blade has been delayed infinitely” is becoming a grim reality for fans eagerly anticipating the vampire hunter’s arrival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). In another disheartening move, Disney has pulled Marvel Studios’ Blade from its release calendar, leaving its future shrouded in uncertainty.
Initially slated for a November 7, 2025, theatrical release, Blade has been replaced by *Predator: Badlands*, the latest installment in the Predator franchise starring Elle Fanning, directed by Dan Trachtenberg.
It’s been over five years since Mahershala Ali, the Oscar-winning actor set to portray the iconic character, donned a Blade hat at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, signaling the vampire hunter’s entry into the MCU. Ali is set to play Eric Brooks, aka Blade, a formidable warrior with vampire powers who is unaffected by sunlight. He even made a voice cameo appearance as Blade in *Eternals*.
While Wesley Snipes’s portrayal of Blade in the New Line Cinema trilogy, *Blade*, *Blade II*, and *Blade: Trinity*, remains a beloved classic, the MCU’s take on the character has faced a string of challenges. Production has been plagued by delays and creative setbacks, pushing back the release from its original 2023 target.
In September 2022, the first director, Bassam Tariq, stepped away from the project, causing the release to be moved to 2024. Yann Demange replaced Tariq in November 2022, but he too exited the project in June 2024, amidst the ongoing Hollywood strikes. The script has also undergone numerous revisions, with Eric Pearson rewriting the script after a series of previous writers, including Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Michael Starrbury, Nic Pizzolatto, and Michael Green, contributed their efforts.
As of now, Blade hasn’t begun filming and doesn’t have a director attached. Despite this, Disney has added three Marvel projects to its 2028 release calendar, leaving many to speculate about what these new additions might be. With the release of *Captain America: Brave New World* (February 14, 2025), *Thunderbolts* (May 2, 2025), and *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* (July 25, 2025), the MCU’s 2025 slate is almost complete. After *Fantastic Four*, only two other Marvel movies have confirmed release dates: *Avengers: Doomsday* (May 1, 2026) and *Avengers: Secret Wars* (May 7, 2027).
While the future of Blade remains uncertain, the anticipation for this character’s MCU debut continues to simmer. Fans eagerly await any news or updates regarding the film’s production and release date. For now, they’ll have to hold onto the hope that Blade’s journey to the big screen will eventually see the light of day.
