Mahershala Ali Calls Out Marvel Over Shelved ‘Blade’ Film: “They Have Billions Of Dollars. If They Wanted To Do The Movie, We Would’ve Done The Movie.”

Mahershala Ali, Blade

Mahershala Ali Calls Out Marvel Over Shelved ‘Blade’ Film: “They Have Billions Of Dollars. If They Wanted To Do The Movie, We Would’ve Done The Movie.”

Mahershala Ali is speaking candidly about Marvel Studios’ long-delayed Blade reboot, making it clear he believes the decision to shelve the project was entirely out of his hands. While discussing his new film Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, the Oscar-winning actor addressed years of speculation surrounding the Marvel project, saying he was fully committed to starring as the iconic vampire hunter.

“If they wanted to do it, we would’ve done it,” Ali said. “You had me under contract. They have billions of dollars. If they wanted to do the movie, we would’ve done the movie. So we’re not doing the movie.”

Rather than dwelling on what could have been, Ali said he’s accepted that Blade simply wasn’t meant to happen.

“One thing I’ve learned is that what is for you is for you and what is not is not. For whatever reason, that project is not for me. So I have to move on, and I have moved on.” Although he’s at peace with the outcome, Ali admitted he’s ready to stop discussing the abandoned Marvel film altogether.

“I feel ready to move on from the Blade questions. Those questions are for them. They didn’t want to do it, so they should answer that question.”

Marvel Studios first announced Ali as its new Blade during San Diego Comic-Con in 2019. The reboot spent years in development, cycling through multiple writers, directors and release dates before ultimately being removed from Disney’s theatrical calendar. Earlier this month, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige acknowledged the project’s struggles, saying he felt like “a gigantic loser and failure” that the film never got off the ground with Ali.