The Mahershala Ali Blade movie that has been delayed and in development hell gets an update courtesy of Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel.
While doing press for Deadpool & Wolverine, the MCU’s first R-rated movie, Feige is asked if the film opens the door for a Blade R-rating.
Feige touches upon the delays and R-rating
“For the last few years, we’ve been trying to crack that movie,” Feige told BlackTree TV. “I think the most important think for us, is not rushing it and making sure that we’re making the right Blade movie because there were some great Blade movies years ago. They were all R-rated.”
Feige added, “So I think that’s inherent, like Deadpool, inherent with the character of Blade.”
Mahershala Ali now on Jurassic World
Regarding the delays, just last month saw it announced that Mahershala Ali will be starring in the new Jurassic World movie with Scarlett Johansson, which will happen prior to any Blade film in the MCU.
Mahershala Ali’s lawyer even said it’s “pretty much the craziest thing in my professional experience” that “they still haven’t shot it” as “that deal was in 2019.”
Blade also lost its second director, Yann Demange, and is on at least half a dozen writers. Back in November, Demange said Blade will be rated R as well.
“They gave me the R, which is so important,” Demange said, adding, “I come out of this [short film] wanting to be more open, more vulnerable and bring a more personal aspect to my work.”
Demange continued, “But for Blade, we are going to have fun because Mahershala is such a deep actor. I’m excited to show a kind of ruthlessness, a roughness he has, that allows him to walk the earth in a particular way. I love him for that. He’s got a dignity and integrity, but there is a ferocity there that he usually keeps under the surface. I want to unleash that and put it on the screen.”
Story morphed into a narrative filled with life lessons
Previous details released about the MCU’s Blade movie include that two-time Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali was going to take a backseat to female characters in his own movie, which again he first pitched to Kevin Feige back in 2019.
Variety previously said, “The story at one point morphed into a narrative led by women and filled with life lessons. Blade was relegated to the fourth lead, a bizarre idea considering that the studio had two-time Oscar winner Ali on board.”
Blade is supposed to get released on November 7, 2025 release date. Maybe we’ll get an update next week at Comic-Con.
