The reboot of Blade is one of the most hotly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies, and has been for about half a decade. Since it was first announced, many other comic book films have been greenlit and released into theaters and quite a few new Marvel TV shows became available stream with a Disney+ subscription, but the big screen return of the most iconic vampire hunter in comic book history remains unseen.
For anyone who feels like they have been waiting a vampire’s lifespan for this upcoming superhero movie and wonders what is taking two-time Academy Award winner (and one-time rap artist) Mahershala Ali and others involved so long, we may be able to help answer some questions. The following is everything that we know about the new Blade movie so far.
What Is The Blade Release Date?
At the moment, Blade has a spot reserved on our upcoming 2025 movies schedule -- specifically on Friday, November 7, 2025. This would mark the third time that the comic book adaptation's opening date -- previously set for Valentine's Day of that year -- has been delayed in the past year.
The MCU Phase 5 installment was previously given a November 2023 release date during Marvel's Hall H Panel at 2022's San Diego Comic-Con, before it would temporarily end up on the upcoming 2024 movies schedule when it was pushed back to September 6th of that year.
What Blade Is About
There really is not much that we know for sure about the film's story, save that the film was, at one point, going to be a period piece in which demon sorcerer Lilith goes after Blade's daughter before this was scrapped in favor of a modern adventure, according to a feature by THR. However, we have a good feeling that the movie will likely feature the title character hunting vampires – not just based on his previous films, but also his history in Marvel comics.
Created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, Blade (née Eric Brooks) is a human born with vampiric abilities as a result of Dr. Deacon Frost feasting on his mother as she gave birth to him. Readers first got a taste of his expertise when he took on the most famous creature of the night 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.
There is also another rumor, reported by Knight Edge Media, that suggests Marvel Studios is developing a movie about the Midnight Sons – a team of heroes (and anti-heroes) whom each possess a supernatural abilities, including Ghost Rider, Moon Knight, and, of course, Blade. If the gossip rings true, the film would bring composer Michael Giacchino (who helmed Disney+'s Werewolf by Night special) back to the director's chair.
Mahershala Ali Leads The Blade Cast As The Title Anti-Hero
While many fans of of the original trilogy would have loved to see Wesley Snipes reprise the Daywalker, the award-winning actor succeeding him is an undeniably exciting choice. Let's take a look at him and the other members of the Blade cast (whose roles are undisclosed at the moment) below.
Mahershala Ali (Blade)
The SDCC 2019 announcement of Blade came with the reveal that Mahershala Ali, who had previously played another MCU character (Luke Cage's "Cottonmouth"), would succeed the title role from Wesley Snipes, having pitched the idea initially. The actor, technically, debuted as the vampire hunter with a vocal cameo in an Eternals post-credits scene. However, Ali's involvement in the project has been (once again) put into question following a THR report that says he is in talks to star in the upcoming fourth Jurassic World movie with Scarlett Johannson.
Mia Goth
In April 2023, Mia Goth was added to the Blade cast after previously scaring audiences in acclaimed A24 horror movies X and Pearl and in Brandon Cronenberg’s twisted satire, Infinity Pool. We have no word on who she is playing, but have a few ideas of what Marvel characters Goth could play. At the premiere for her her latest upcoming A24 movie, MaXXXine, she assured Deadline that the makers of Blade "really care, they do. They want to make a great movie. That’s the sense that I get from them and that feels good.”
Aaron Pierre and Delroy Lindo were also part of the Blade cast, but have since dropped out. There was also a recent rumor (via ComicBookMovie.com) that Wesley Snipes has signed on to portray his version of Blade in a cross-dimensional cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine. However, considering how Ryan Reynolds and Snipes did not have the greatest working relationship on the set of Blade: Trinity and the actor seemed confused by the rumors on social media, this one is especially hard to buy into... for now, at least.
What Will Blade Be Rated?
According to director Yann Demange's testimony to Deadline, Blade is going to be rated R. This is yet another detail that remains unofficial, but we hope his word rings true, considering the eponymous anti-hero's previous cinematic adventures were also branded as such by the MPA. Also, quite frankly, it would only be appropriate that a movie about bloodsucking creatures include more blood than a PG-13 rating would allow, even if Wesley Snipes disagrees.
Blade Currently Has No Director
In June 2024, The Wrap reported that Yann Demange -- the second person hired to direct Blade after replacing Bassam Tariq -- has exited the project. The Parisian filmmaker, who was brought in helm the Blade reboot in November 2022, previously directed 2014's '71 and 2018's White Boy Rick, but he is arguably best known for helming the thrilling pilot for HBO's Emmy-winning horror series, Lovecraft Country.
According to THR's recent feature about Blade's development hell, screenwriter Michael Green, known for collaborating on Logan's Oscar-nomated screenplay, is out, too, and Eric Pearson -- who practically specialized in finalizing Marvel movie scripts -- is working on the latest draft. People previously hired to write the reboot also include Emmy nominee Stacy Osei-Kuffour of HBO's Watchmen fame, X-Men '97 creator Beau DeMayo, True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto, When They See Us writer Michael Starrbury.
How To Watch The Original Blade Movies
As they wait for the Daywalker's eventual return, fans and fans-to-be can check out the character's latest adventures in the comics or watch the original Blade movies. You can even keep the vampire hunting adventure going by giving the Sticky Fingaz-led spin-off series a try.
Rent or buy Blade on Amazon.
Buy Blade on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Rent or buy Blade II on Amazon.
Buy Blade II on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Rent or buy Blade: Trinity on Amazon.
Buy Blade: Trinity on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Stream Blade: The Series on Tubi.
Buy Blade: The Series on DVD on Amazon.
While promoting director Sam Esmail's Netflix movie, Leave the World Behind, Mahershala Ali told EW that he is "really encouraged with the direction of the project." We might recommend using the time we have to also rewatching Marvel movies in order before the MCU finally brings Blade back from the dead.
