There is a lot to look forward to from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the many upcoming Marvel movies heading to theaters, and many upcoming Marvel TV shows to stream on Disney+. However, one of the most hotly anticipated projects is Marvel’s Blade movie.
The reboot is still a subject of mystery for fans looking forward to seeing the big screen return of the most iconic vampire hunter in comic book history, especially with two-time Academy Award winner (and one-time rap artist) Mahershala Ali in the title role. For anyone who feels like they have been waiting a vampire’s lifespan for the new Blade movie, perhaps we can bring you up to speed on all the most essential things to know about one of the most long-awaited upcoming superhero movies, starting with when fans will finally be able to see it.
What Is The Blade Release Date?
At the moment, according to Variety, Blade is set to come out on Friday, February 14, 2025. Thus, it will surely serve as a perfect way for comic book movie-loving couples to spend Valentine’s Day weekend.
The MCU Phase 5 installment was previously a part of our 2023 movies schedule – given a November release date during Marvel’s Hall H Panel at 2022’s San Diego Comic-Con – before it would end up on our upcoming 2024 movies schedule when it was pushed back to September 6th of that year. Instead – as part of a handful of major release date shake-ups – it will be one of the first blockbusters of 2025.
Blade Is A Half-Vampire Who Hunts Creatures Of The Night
When it comes to the story, there is really not much at all that we know at the moment. However, we imagine that the movie probably has something to do with the title character hunting vampires – not just based on the previous films that focused on his adventures, but also his history in Marvel comics.
Created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, Blade (whose real name is Eric Brooks) is a human born with vampiric abilities as a result of the nefarious bloodsucker, Dr. Deacon Frost, feasting on his mother as she gave birth to him. Audiences first got a taste of his expertise in preying on creatures of the night when he took on the most famous one of all in 1973’s Tomb of Dracula, Vol. 1, Issue 10. He has also crossed paths with Morbius the Living Vampire, whom we once predicted would likely lose in a fight with Blade.
Mahershala Ali Leads The Cast As Blade
When Kevin Feige first announced that an MCU reboot of Bladewas in development during Marvel Studios’ San Diego Comic-Con panel in 2019, the confirmation came with the reveal that Mahershala Ali, who had previously played another MCU character (“Cottonmouth” on Luke Cage), would take over the title role, having pitched the idea to Feige in the first place. Ali would, technically, make his debut in the role with a vocal cameo in an Eternals post-credits scene, as director Chloé Zhao confirmed to Fandom later. Despite years of campaigning to return to the role, former Blade actor Wesley Snipes — who first played the character 25 years ago — gave the new movie his blessing, citing Ali as “a beautiful and talented artist whose expressions I look forward to experiencing for many years to come.”
Three other actors have been added to the Blade cast so far, including – according to Variety – Delroy Lindo (who almost made his MCU debut in an unaired pilot for Marvel’s Most Wanted), and Old cast member Aaron Pierre (who previously starred on Syfy’s DC TV show, Krypton), according to Deadline. Also reported by Deadline was the casting of Mia Goth, who has already been scaring audiences for most of her career, having led acclaimed A24 horror moviesX and Pearl and starred in Brandon Cronenberg’s twisted satire, Infinity Pool. We have no word on who any of these supporting actors are playing, but have a few ideas of what Marvel characters Goth could play.
Yann Demange Is Directing Blade
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Yann Demange was brought on to helm the Blade reboot in November 2022. The Parisian filmmaker’s feature-length efforts include 2014’s ’71 and 2018’s White Boy Rick, but he is arguably best known for directing the thrilling pilot for HBO’s Emmy-winning horror series, Lovecraft Country.
Demange is actually the second person hired to direct the reboot, having replaced Mogul Mowgli’s Bassam Tariq, who was selected for the task in July 2021, according to Deadline, before dropping out more than a year later. Previously, Jordan Peele’s name had been thrown around before the Oscar winner told Rolling Stone in July 2019 that it was not the right time for him to live out what he still referred to as “a filmmaker’s dream.” Deadpool 2 director David Leitch also expressed interest to ScreenRant around the same time.
Nic Pizzolatto Is Writing Blade
This movie will mark a reunion between Ali and one of his most talented previous collaborators, Nic Pizzolatto. According to The Hollywood Reporter, as of April 2023, the creator of the HBO original, anthological crime drama, True Detective, has been tasked with writing the story. However, much like the situation with the film’s director, he is not the first one to be hired for the position.
Pizzolatto will reportedly be working off of a draft by Emmy nominee Michael Starburry, who was rumored to have cut Black Knight out of the story until Kit Harrington confirmed his character was never intended to be in the movie. However, the first person hired to pen Blade, in February 2021 – according to THR – was fellow Emmy nominee Stacy Osei-Kuffour, whose last experience writing a comic book adaptation was the acclaimed Watchmen TV series on HBO.
Production Is On Hold Due To The Writers Strike
Despite the good news of there being someone hired to write and direct Blade following the previous changes in hiring, there is actually nothing being written at the moment, nor have any scenes been shot. According to THR, just as the reboot was finally nearing the beginning of production, the movie was put on hold once again because of the ongoing writers strike, which has since merged with SAG-AFTRA strike that began in July 2023.
This would explain why the film — which Travis Scott in interested in composing the soundtrack for, according to Uproxx — was pushed back so many months from its previous fall 2024 release date. On the bright side, this gives Pizzolatto enough time to let his imagination run as he envisions what is next in store for the vampire hunter.
This also gives fans and fans-to-be even more time to stream the original Blade movies, which are currently available with a Max subscription. They can also rewatch all the Marvel movies in order before the MCU brings the character back from the dead. “Daywalkers” can also check out the character’s new solo comic book series, which — according to ScreenRant — saw him gain some new powers, courtesy of none other than Dracula.