Blade Star Mahershala Ali Now ‘Really Encouraged’ by the Direction of the MCU Reboot

Summary

• Mahershala Ali is encouraged and positive about the upcoming Blade reboot, expressing satisfaction with the new direction of the project.
• Filming on the Blade reboot was halted due to creative differences, but with the hiring of Logan writer Michael Green, Ali is now excited about the writing and direction of the Marvel project.
• The Blade reboot will be R-rated, allowing for a portrayal of the character’s ruthlessness and ferocity.

Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali has expressed his encouragement over the upcoming Blade reboot, with the acclaimed actor feeling positive about the new direction. The MCU Blade movie has been the subject of much drama behind-the-scenes, with production losing directors and hiring new writers while reports have claimed Ali has been unhappy with what Marvel has planned. Well, following the hiring of Logan writer Michael Green, it sounds like Ali is now satisfied with the Blade reboot.

“We’re working on it. That’s the best I could tell you. I’m really encouraged with the direction of the project. I think we’ll be back at it relatively soon.”

Filming on the Blade reboot was shut down just six weeks before production, with the project having gone through a number of writers and directors and suffering from the specter of “creative differences.” Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige reportedly stopped the movie close to production due to his displeasure with what he had seen, hiring Oscar-nominated writer Michael Green and shifting the release date to November 2025.

Lovecraft Country director Yann Demange is on board to helm Blade, and Ali says while speaking with EW that he is excited about the writing and direction behind the Marvel project.

“I’m sincerely encouraged in terms of where things are at and who’s on board and who’s leading the way as far as the writing of the script and the directing and all that. So that’s the extent of what I can tell you.”

RELATED: Why the MCU’s Blade Should Focus on the Character’s Origin Story

Marvel’s Blade Reboot Will Be R-Rated

Not much has yet been revealed about the direction of the Blade reboot, but it is expected to feature the mysterious Ebony Blade, which was introduced in 2021’s Eternals. Rumors have claimed that Blade will introduce the vampire hunter’s daughter, Fallon Grey, who possesses the same powers and assists her old man in killing monsters.

One thing we do know about Blade is that it will be R-rated, meaning the movie will not shy away from the blood that’s shed as the Daywalker does his duty. As director Yann Demange reveals…

“They gave me the R, which is so important.”

The filmmaker is also excited for audiences to see what Ali does with the beloved Marvel character, describing him as ruthless and dignified.

“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.”

Blade is scheduled to be released on November 7, 2025, as part of Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The rest of the phase includes the reboot of the Fantastic Four, the team-up movie Thunderbolts from director Jake Schreier, and the two Avengers sequels Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, which are due for release in 2026 and 2027 respectively.

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