Should they replace Mahershala Ali as Blade?

It has been more than half a decade since they announced Blade, Ali isn't getting younger. Blade is supposed to be young? Should they recast Blade with a younger actor. Unless they only do one film, he'll soon look too old to play the part

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Commentaires

Captain-Wilco2025-12-02 23:15

Does Blade have to look young? I’d rather have an slightly old looking Ali than someone else

uberprodude2025-12-02 23:39

He was made into a vampire as a baby, I always thought it was weird to cast a grown man /s

BackgroundEngineer112025-12-02 23:55

You want a baby Blade? Teen Blade? The character isn't a youth in the comics.

uberprodude2025-12-03 00:02

Think of all the franchising opportunities. Bey-blade the spinning vampire hunter, B.A. Blade of the A-team, Boss Blade. All babies of course, as all Blade incarnations should be

King_Wataba2025-12-03 00:41

Yeah it could be like that hit show Teenjus!

SeekerVash2025-12-03 01:00

I mean, I'd line up for a toddler dual wielding katana's and mowing down vampires. That's something you don't see often.

GotMoFans2025-12-02 23:16

Yes.

And they need to make Mahershala Ali a powerful villain.

FALCUNPAWNCH2025-12-02 23:18

He already did a great job as Cottonmouth.

Edit: And Prowler.

rysker62025-12-02 23:19

Luke Cage was the best Marvel show to me, and Cottonmouth was CLASSIC. Bc we’re doing multiverse now, bring him back

Material-Elephant1882025-12-02 23:21

man i really gotta go back and rewatch Luke Cage

Asharak782025-12-03 00:01

Cottonmouth (and his sister) were great, but Shades was the fucking man!

TrollTollTony2025-12-03 01:34

Season 1 was great. Everything after Cottonmouth... not so much.

GotMoFans2025-12-02 23:21

He did. In a too short role.

Now give him another.

MrDoom4e52025-12-03 03:30

Kang!

GotMoFans2025-12-03 03:30

He should have gotten it over Majors.

TimDaGod20052025-12-02 23:18

Just cancel the movie all together if you have to do all that work to recast your 2 time academy award winning actor who was really the main reason the movie was even happening to begin with. This movie should have been out by now idk what marvel is doing.

LampyV22025-12-02 23:52

Meh sometimes you gotta cut your losses. Something funky is happening behind the scenes here. I say give it back to Reynolds and Snipes.

deekaydubya2025-12-03 00:05

Seriously marvel is acting like they only have 4 cameras between the entire franchise. What the fuck is going on internally

taquitosmixtape2025-12-03 00:47

Yeah something odd is happening. Corporate spending cuts? No idea what it could be to have steam behind characters and then nothing for years

matty_nice2025-12-03 01:24

Disney and Marvel have this beleif that the IP matters more than the creators, and creators aren't sticking around at Disney/Marvel.

All the best creators are going to Amazon, Apple, Universal, WB, Paramount. Not Disney.

SeekerVash2025-12-03 00:58

Feige.

They put him in charge of everything in 2019 and it's been a steady decline. It's very clear at this point that he was being reined in by a team through Infinity Saga. Once they put him in charge and no one can veto him, things went off the rails.

shogi_x2025-12-03 01:32

Lmao what? None of this is even remotely true.

SeekerVash2025-12-03 04:08

Oh?

The announcement of Feige's promotion...

[Avengers mastermind Kevin Feige is in charge of all of Marvel now](https://www.polygon.com/2019/10/15/20916020/kevin-feige-marvel-comics-studios-entertainment-avengers/)

The collected box office chart of the MCU, showing how poorly post-endgame MCU has done...

[Marvel Cinematic Universe Franchise Box Office History - The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe#tab=summary)

Since none of what I said is remotely true, you can contradict both of those things right?

shogi_x2025-12-03 06:30

1. [Feige has been in charge of the MCU since the very beginning in 2008](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/marvel-extends-maisel-deal-ups-111119/). Specifically, he was in charge of Marvel *Studios*, which produced all of the movies. In 2019 they named him chief creative of all Marvel, including tv, games, and comics, which he previously did not control. None of that changed his position with the MCU, which was already established. So all of the prior success was due to Feige, not someone reigning him in.

2. The decline was more the result of Disney CEO Bob Chapek, who ordered Feige to turn on a fire hose of content to support Disney+. The result was a ton of content of questionable quality and long timelines on sequels due to resources being spread thin. Then when Disney fired Chapek for spending too much on D+, they canceled a bunch of projects and threw the whole saga into even more chaos. Add in COVID, Jonathan Majors, and people's general lukewarm reception of multiverse content and you have recipe for the current mess.

Phaze_Nero2025-12-03 02:26

You have no idea what you are talking about.

SeekerVash2025-12-03 04:05

Ok, then go ahead and explain why the MCU started a slide off a cliff right after Feige was put in charge in 2019.

CaptHayfever2025-12-03 02:00

They've been backlogged. The release schedule is only now catching up with the production schedule.

Tundraspin2025-12-03 05:32

I like this joke....4 cameras

Cool_Nerd22025-12-02 23:20

I really don’t understand why it’s so hard to make a Blade movie. It’s about a guy who hunts Vampires. The budget doesn’t even need to be huge

Fawqueue2025-12-02 23:51

It's not hard. It's just seems uniquely difficult for Disney Marvel to do so without hijacking the film to make it a story about his girl boss of a daughter.

SeekerVash2025-12-03 00:59

Or "The women in his life" learning life lessons.

(Yes, that was in Variety's report on what's happening)

CaptHayfever2025-12-03 02:02

That was only like the first draft. One of the later writers said his script was nothing like that at all.

matty_nice2025-12-03 01:25

I don't think Marvel is really interested in making that kind of movie. Something akin to John Wick with Vampires.

The idea to make a Blade movie wasn't something that Marvel pitched, but Ali pitched it to them.

AmaterasuWolf212025-12-03 01:43

0 plot

0 intriguing conflict

7 vampires killed

skronk612025-12-02 23:21

I literally just watched Eternals yesterday and I think the only thing surviving that movie long term is Adamantium

jaxomlotus2025-12-03 00:13

i wish that Black Knight and Sersei could still join the Avengers...

EarthboundMan52025-12-03 00:22

I'd rather they pluck Makkari and Druig out, Sersei and Dane were some of the least interesting characters in that movie

jaxomlotus2025-12-03 00:49

Oh yes agreed on the actual characters in the movie. I'm just thinking back to the Avengers lineup from the 1990s that included them (and Hercules) and am hopeful we'll get there some day. But yes, Makkari and Druig were standouts in an otherwise disappointing film.

blondemf2025-12-03 01:28

Yes!! As someone who loves 90s Avengers, I was so excited to see Sersei, Hercules, and Black Knight be introduced. But was so disappointed to see none of them be even referenced since their debut. Black Knight is my third favorite hero like I need to see him on screen in all his glory 😭 and Kit Harrington is PERFECT casting!!! I’m mad again lmao

Affectionate_Rub_6382025-12-03 00:53

Sensei from one battle after another would be cool

NormanDoor2025-12-03 04:01

¡Viva la revolución!

skronk612025-12-03 01:01

Black Knight definitely could be cool mixed with the Agatha story. The fans are desperate for some high fantasy marvel with no space stuff.

13WillieBeaman2025-12-03 01:33

Kit needs to recreate this with the Ebony Blade:

I

![gif](giphy|3oEjI1erPMTMBFmNHi|downsized)

Myhtological2025-12-03 00:24

And even that’s getting retconned to hell after secret wars

skronk612025-12-03 01:02

Wolverine being part Celestial just doesn’t feel right

Myhtological2025-12-03 01:03

Also it’s throw the timeline for Wolverine, eventually, joining the XMen out of whack

a_natural_chemical2025-12-02 23:23

Well since no one else has said it...

There's only one Blade. Only ever gonna be one.

Or something. Couldn't be arsed to look it up.

BlueCollarElectro2025-12-03 00:33

Yes but marvel zombies lol

jpiro2025-12-02 23:24

Do you have to replace a guy who never actually played the role? Did they "replace" Nick Cage as Superman?

kmckenzie2562025-12-02 23:34

He was Blade at the end of Eternals

Hugh-Jass242025-12-03 00:13

He was a voice. Anyone can play a voice and voices can change over time.

jpiro2025-12-03 00:33

Off camera, as a disembodied voice. I don’t think recasting that is hard.

MusicLikeOxygen2025-12-02 23:43

It was more that they replaced the whole Superman project. Cage signed a contract and did costume fittings and everything. The movie got a lot farther than most cancelled movies.

In Ali's case, he spoke a line at the end of Eternals and played an alternate universe version of Blade in Marvel Zombies, so it seem like it would be a replacement to me.

Joshawott272025-12-02 23:26

Obviously, we have no idea what has actually been going on behind-the-scenes to cause this development hell, but a part of me wonders if at least a part of it might not be Mahershala Ali himself. I don’t have any basis for this, nor do I have any beef with the guy. However, when we consider how quickly Marvel Studios typically gets these films made, he is a big outlying factor. I wouldn’t be surprised if we learn years down the line that there were major creative differences between his team and Marvel Studios’.

Gilded-Mongoose2025-12-02 23:30

Black don't crack. No. "Half a decade" sounds more like a decade, but it's 5 years. That's not long at all.

DJTLaC2025-12-02 23:30

Yes and it should have never been him in the first place. He's a great actor but his fame and prestige made them say yes when he reached out to *them* about doing it. It was not part of the plan at the time and it's so annoying they tried to shove it in there to make it work.

He's already had a **highly** praised role in Luke Cage. He really doesn't need to play another major character in any project. There are so many young and talented black actors working right now, there's no reason we need a 50 year old Blade when we could have someone in their 20s or 30s. It's almost a shame Yahya Abdul-Mateen is going to be Wonder Man because I think he could be a dope Blade.

Aromatic-Cupcake48022025-12-02 23:32

Marvel had TV plans for Blade, then Ali approached Marvel to portray him on the big screen and Feige was on board. Seems like Mahershala Ali really wants it to happen, don’t see him opting out.

rudeboi7102025-12-03 00:41

That was what like in 2018? That was 7 years ago. He could have a completely different opinion now. Frankly no one is saying much about the project anymore.

Eridanii2025-12-03 02:27

2018 wasn't 7 years ago, what are you talking about

Shit 💀💀

TheBosk2025-12-03 02:45

We got Blade Knight, so that's nice

Fabricati_Diem_Pvn2025-12-02 23:35

The only reason Blade is getting made is because of Mahershala Ali. Remove him, and the project is dead.

EDPZ2025-12-02 23:36

They can just deage him

Realistic_Analyst_262025-12-02 23:58

They deaged Sam Jackson in Captain Marvel. You saw how stiff those movements were.

CaptHayfever2025-12-03 02:04

That wasn't because of the CGI; that was because Sam Jackson can't run anymore.

Realistic_Analyst_262025-12-03 06:32

That is my point. Deaging can only do so much for an actor.

CaptHayfever2025-12-03 07:22

My mistake, I thought you meant the CGI itself was stiff. In that case, I agree.

DownhillSisyphus2025-12-02 23:39

I think they should replace him with a white actor. And make Ali the villain. Just to watch the fireworks........

-_The_Dark_Knight_--2025-12-02 23:50

I think no. I really want to see him as Blade

JackMorelli132025-12-02 23:54

He’s not the problem and I don’t think blade needs to be a young character

I also don’t think he needs to be immortal either

Buhos_En_Pantelones2025-12-02 23:55

I don't know if this is blasphemy as I don't read the comics, but can Blade be like a Dread Pirate Roberts situation? Ali can be Blade, but he passes the mantle to a new younger 'Blade'.

BackgroundEngineer112025-12-02 23:57

Mahershala was already older than Wesley Snipes' first appearance when the film was announced

TyrionBananaster2025-12-03 00:16

No. What they actually need to do is replace every other actor with Mahershala Ali.

Every actor.

In everything.

Ever.

Myhtological2025-12-03 00:24

At this point yes. But maybe cast him as Quartermain and be the Fury of the supernatural side

havewelost63882025-12-03 00:24

They technically already did. Todd Williams played him in Marvel Zombies, albeit with Ali's likeness.

Middle_Aged_Mayhem2025-12-03 00:26

Couldn't care less about Blade at this point.

Spiderlander2025-12-03 00:26

Yes. I don’t want a middle-aged Blade starting out a brand new reboot.

If that’s the route, they should do Blade 4 with Snipes

Youngsimba_922025-12-03 00:30

I don’t think they should recast I think Moon Blade gave us a great insight into what he would look like as Blade an it’s very different from Wesley’s Blade.

It’s interesting aswell that the costumes and set for Sinners was sold to Coogler from Marvel because it was supposed to be in the Blade movie made me wonder what it could have been.

They’re trying to get it right.

UsernameFor20162025-12-03 00:35

Jayden Smith

Daranhatu2025-12-03 00:37

I would prefer Mahershala Ali, but if he can’t play it anymore maybe they could go with Chris Chalk, who plays Dick Halloran in Welcome to Derry. Terrific actor!!!

asayys2025-12-03 00:38

I said this in another thread but he should play Blue Marvel

Chiefmeez2025-12-03 00:39

Yes it’s been too long since they started with him and he’s too old for a Blade I’d like to see

BetterCallMaul1232025-12-03 00:48

For the sake of argument, if they manage to get the film out by 2028 and (being generous) are able to keep to a 3 year gap between sequels, so 2031 and 2034, and throw in some crossovers in between (Midnight Sons); that’ll be the rest of his 50’s.

In my opinion, I don’t think that’s too old. That’s essentially Keanu’s entire run from 2014-2023 as John Wick.

I just don’t think Marvel’s looking to invest that much into Blade sadly. Given how rough just this one movie is going, I’m getting one and done vibes regardless of who plays him. But who knows. Money talks most in the end.

Affectionate_Rub_6382025-12-03 00:52

Should they? Idk. Probably. Will they? Probably

Jaideco2025-12-03 00:59

I’m happy with him playing Blade for the next five years… they just need to get moving with it.

Buffalax812025-12-03 01:05

I believe that they realize it was a bad casting and that’s why they are delaying it. They’re hoping he will lose interest.

BrightSpark802025-12-03 01:17

Yes, and it should be Wesley Snipes

Tim_Hag2025-12-03 01:23

Several other actors with major roles in the MCU are within a year of his age and older. Blade does not have a specific age associated with him or anything that says he can't be too old looking. I feel like this is only ever suggested because people think that if Ali is off the project it will magically get made. It would not.

TyrusX2025-12-03 01:33

Bring back Wesley snipes. Old man blade

0LoveAnonymous02025-12-03 01:41

At this point they probably should. It’s been so long since the announcement that Ali’s basically aging out of the version of Blade they seem to want and Marvel clearly hasn’t gotten their act together with this movie. It sucks because he’s perfect for the role, but unless they’re planning a one-and-done or a story where Blade’s already older, a younger actor might make more sense long-term.

alexjf562025-12-03 01:44

No, he’s the best possible pick and I don’t care how long it takes to make the movie

dpittnet2025-12-03 01:44

professorzaius2025-12-03 02:56

Michael B Jordan as Blade, directed by Ryan Coogler.

DuckyHornet2025-12-03 03:18

Yes. Replace with a young, up-and-coming black actor from Julliard

Jonathan Majors.

Defiant_Wheel48882025-12-03 03:48

![gif](giphy|s0Ils0TIVZ5Fm)

Age is not a problem in the MCU de-aging technology has you covered.

jtfjtf2025-12-03 03:48

They already made Marvel Zombies blade to look like Mahershala, can't go back now!

ProfessorUpvote2025-12-03 05:16

Keep Mahershala, fire everyone else. It can’t be this hard to make a Blade movie.

hooka_pooka2025-12-03 06:27

They should scrap the whole project

OblivionArts2025-12-03 09:31

"only been one Blade. Only ever gonna be one Blade." Getting realer every day

rekzkarz2025-12-03 09:36

Do Snipes as Blade! I mean, hes still alive, he's super liked,.and he deserves an MCU paycheck.

Flying_Mohawk2772025-12-03 18:31

Is blade even a thing?

Less_Pitch_78352025-12-03 18:35

I’m so fucken PISSED about this. I don’t want them to recast him they have a great fucken actor to be blade. Mahershala please don’t give this up. MARVEL what the fuck is going on!!!