Marvel Studios angers fans by ditching Blade reboot starring Mahershala Ali from release calendar

on

By Cassie Carpenter For Dailymail.Com

Published: | Updated:

Marvel Studios and Disney angered fans on Tuesday by quietly removing their long-delayed Blade reboot - which was set to hit theaters November 7, 2025 - from the release calendar.

At 50, two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali is only 12 years older than original star Wesley Snipes, but he signed on to replace him as the half-vampire, vampire hunter Eric Brooks five years ago.

'We're working on it. That's the best I could tell you,' Mahershala (born Mahershalalhashbaz) updated EW on December 5.

'I'm really encouraged with the direction of the project. I think we'll be back at it relatively soon.'

Ali made his MCU debut back in 2016 as Cornell 'Cottonmouth' Stokes in Netflix series Luke Cage, and he provided an off-camera voiceover line as Blade for the post-credits scene of Marvel's 2021 failed franchise film, Eternals.

Marvel Studios and Disney angered fans on Tuesday by quietly removing their long-delayed Blade reboot - which was set to hit theaters November 7, 2025 - from the release calendar

Marvel Studios and Disney angered fans on Tuesday by quietly removing their long-delayed Blade reboot - which was set to hit theaters November 7, 2025 - from the release calendar

At 50, two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (pictured March 10) is only 12 years older than original star Wesley Snipes, but he signed on to replace him as the half-vampire, vampire hunter Eric Brooks five years ago

At 50, two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (pictured March 10) is only 12 years older than original star Wesley Snipes, but he signed on to replace him as the half-vampire, vampire hunter Eric Brooks five years ago

Fans can thank Ryan Reynolds for sparking renewed interest in Wesley as Blade after having him reprise the role in Shawn Levy's critically-acclaimed blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, which amassed $1.337B at the global box office.

'There's only been one Blade,' the Independent Spirit Award nominee ominously warned at gunpoint in the film. 'There's only ever gonna be one Blade.'

The wisecracking Canadian - turning 48 on Wednesday - lead a social media campaign in August for Snipes to get 'a Logan-like send off' just like his buddy Hugh Jackman did for Wolverine.

Ryan - who boasts 122.6M social media followers - tweeted: 'There is no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade first creating a market. He's Marvel Daddy.'

Wesley broke two Guinness World Records with Deadpool & Wolverine - longest career as a live-action Marvel character (1998's Blade) and longest gap between character appearances (since 2004's Blade: Trinity).

Reaction to the news Tuesday was swift with fans demanding the return of Snipes to the 'cursed' film and accusing Marvel of 'doing Mahershala Ali dirty.'

Instgram user @its.beezy_ commented on the news: 'Wesley put a curse on this movie I'm convinced.'

'Mahershala being disrespected like this hurts [for real],' Instagram user @jpeeezy_ wrote.

Mahershala made his MCU debut back in 2016 as Cornell 'Cottonmouth' Stokes in Netflix series Luke Cage, and he provided an off-camera voiceover line as Blade for the post-credits scene of Marvel's 2021 failed franchise film, Eternals (pictured)

Mahershala made his MCU debut back in 2016 as Cornell 'Cottonmouth' Stokes in Netflix series Luke Cage, and he provided an off-camera voiceover line as Blade for the post-credits scene of Marvel's 2021 failed franchise film, Eternals (pictured)

Fans can thank Ryan Reynolds (2-R) for sparking renewed interest in Wesley (2-L) as Blade after having him reprise the role in Shawn Levy's critically-acclaimed blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, which amassed $1.337B at the global box office

Fans can thank Ryan Reynolds (2-R) for sparking renewed interest in Wesley (2-L) as Blade after having him reprise the role in Shawn Levy's critically-acclaimed blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, which amassed $1.337B at the global box office 

'There's only been one Blade,' the Independent Spirit Award nominee ominously warned at gunpoint in the film. 'There's only ever gonna be one Blade'

'There's only been one Blade,' the Independent Spirit Award nominee ominously warned at gunpoint in the film. 'There's only ever gonna be one Blade'

The wisecracking Canadian - turning 48 on Wednesday - lead a social media campaign in August for Snipes to get 'a Logan-like send off' just like his buddy Hugh Jackman did for Wolverine

The wisecracking Canadian - turning 48 on Wednesday - lead a social media campaign in August for Snipes to get 'a Logan-like send off' just like his buddy Hugh Jackman did for Wolverine

Wesley broke two Guinness World Records with Deadpool & Wolverine - longest career as a live-action Marvel character (1998's Blade, pictured) and longest gap between character appearances (since 2004's Blade: Trinity)

Wesley broke two Guinness World Records with Deadpool & Wolverine - longest career as a live-action Marvel character (1998's Blade, pictured) and longest gap between character appearances (since 2004's Blade: Trinity) 

Reaction to the news Tuesday was swift with fans demanding the return of Snipes to the 'cursed' film and accusing Marvel of 'doing Mahershala Ali dirty'

Reaction to the news Tuesday was swift with fans demanding the return of Snipes to the 'cursed' film and accusing Marvel of 'doing Mahershala Ali dirty'

Instagram user @jasonn2255_ wrote: 'Bring back Wesley Snipes!'

Instagram user @jasonn2255_ wrote: 'Bring back Wesley Snipes!'

'Mahershala being disrespected like this hurts [for real],' Instagram user @jpeeezy_ wrote. 'Oscar winner, incredible actor & they can't my man a proper script and production'

'Mahershala being disrespected like this hurts [for real],' Instagram user @jpeeezy_ wrote. 'Oscar winner, incredible actor & they can't my man a proper script and production'

Instagram user @vibeworldx agreed: '[To be honest] I like Wesley Snipes but Mahershala earned the role like anyone else. Man is an Oscar winner I want him as Blade. Wesley already did a good job I'm ready for a new interpretation.'

Instagram user @vibeworldx agreed: '[To be honest] I like Wesley Snipes but Mahershala earned the role like anyone else. Man is an Oscar winner I want him as Blade. Wesley already did a good job I'm ready for a new interpretation.'

'How has Ali not dropped out yet? He's 50 already. Dude's not getting any younger,' @there_will_be_josh commented

'How has Ali not dropped out yet? He's 50 already. Dude's not getting any younger,' @there_will_be_josh commented

Instagram user @jasito1985 noted: 'His @deadpool quote lives on'

Instagram user @jasito1985 noted: 'His @deadpool quote lives on'

'Oscar winner, incredible actor & they can't my man a proper script and production.'

Instagram user @vibeworldx agreed: '[To be honest] I like Wesley Snipes but Mahershala earned the role like anyone else. Man is an Oscar winner I want him as Blade. Wesley already did a good job I'm ready for a new interpretation.'

'How has Ali not dropped out yet? He's 50 already. Dude's not getting any younger,' @there_will_be_josh commented.

Instagram user @jasito1985 noted: 'His @deadpool quote lives on.'

The Blade reboot has been plagued with delays, setbacks, and strikes beginning with the 2022 exit of director Bassam Tariq - who was then replaced by Yann Demange, who exited the troubled film in June.

Transformers One screenwriter Eric Pearson was hired after passes by Michael Green, Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Michael Starrbury, Beau DeMayo, and Nic Pizzolatto.