Blade is now rumored for Avengers: Secret Wars, which immediately raises the big question: Which Blade?
According to scooper Daniel RPK, Blade could be part of Secret Wars.
RPK apparently didn’t say if that means Wesley Snipes is returning after Deadpool & Wolverine, or if Marvel Studios is finally using the movie to debut Mahershala Ali after years of delays, rewrites, and cancellations tied to his solo film.
Either way, the rumor adds another wrinkle to Marvel’s long-running Blade problem.
Wesley Snipes Or Mahershala Ali?
The rumor doesn’t make clear which version of Blade is involved.
Wesley Snipes would be the easier option. He already returned, fans responded well, and Secret Wars gives Marvel a clean excuse to use the character again without having to explain much. Ryan Reynolds also said he wants Snipes back in the role.
Mahershala Ali is the bigger question.
Ali was announced as Blade all the way back in 2019, but the movie has been stuck in development hell ever since. The project has gone through multiple delays, directors, writers, and release date changes. At one point, it was supposed to be a major piece of Marvel’s supernatural side, but the movie still hasn’t gotten off the ground.
Using Secret Wars to finally introduce Ali’s Blade could be one way to get the character into the MCU without waiting for the solo movie. It could also let Marvel test the waters before committing to another version of the Blade film.
Blade Has Also Been Rumored For Midnight Sons
The Secret Wars rumor is also interesting because it follows a previous rumor from January that claimed Marvel had canceled the Blade movie and planned to use the character in Midnight Sons instead.
That rumor suggested Blade would be part of Marvel’s supernatural team-up plans rather than leading his own solo film.
Midnight Sons has long been rumored as one of Marvel’s potential post-Avengers projects, especially with characters like Doctor Strange, Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing, Elsa Bloodstone, and potentially Blade all sitting in the MCU or nearby.
If Marvel doesn’t know how to make Blade work as a solo movie, using him in an ensemble could be the fallback.
Marvel Comics Just Launched A Midnight Universe
The rumor also lines up with what Marvel Comics is doing.
Marvel recently announced its new Midnight Universe, which brings a darker supernatural corner to the comics. Blade hasn’t been confirmed for it yet, but the setup includes vampire-related stories involving major characters, including the X-Men.
That matters because Marvel Comics often lines up with where the MCU is headed, and just recently saw the big news that head of Marvel TV will be in charge of Marvel Comics.
The comics don’t always spoil the movies, but they often reflect the same brand direction.
If Marvel is pushing supernatural stories, vampires, and Midnight-style characters in the comics, it could be a sign the MCU still has plans for Blade and Midnight Sons.
