Mahershala Ali has a simple response to questions about ‘Blade’: “Let them know I’m ready”
Blade has been on the Marvel table for quite some times and we’ve been waiting for more information on the Mahershala Ali led film for a while. And it isn’t being held up by the very busy star.
At the premiere for his new film, Jurassic World Rebirth, Ali revealed that it wasn’t him at all that delayed the project. While speaking with Variety, he said that if Marvel called him, he’d be ready. “Call Marvel,” Ali said on the red carpet. He didn’t really elaborate further on what was happening with Blade but did say “I’m ready. Let them know I’m ready.”
It has been years since Ali’s casting as Blade was announced. The vampire is an important character for Marvel comics and has, in the past, had a successful film franchise with Wesley Snipes leading the charge. But the Marvel Cinematic Universe take on Blade has been met with delays, directors dropping, and a lot of changing release dates without an end in sight.
Originally supposed to be released on November 3, 2023, the film was then pushed to November 7 of this year before being taken off the release schedule completely. Blade did make his Marvel debut in last summer’s Deadpool & Wolverine with Snipes returning to the role, making fun of the delays the film has faced with the new adaptation.
But as was the case successful movies like Wicked, the delays don’t mean that Blade is shelved forever. There can be a world where we see Ali take on the character, especially since he is still eager to do it. We don’t know where the film stands. Both Aaron Pierre and Delroy Lindo were reportedly cast but have stated that they left the project and both Bassam Tariq and Yann Demanger joined at different times to direct and have since exited.
Until we know more, at least we know that Ali is into the idea still and hopefully that means there is still a chance for his Blade.
(featured image: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment)
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