It seems the long-awaited *Blade* movie has finally lost its pulse. What was once a highly anticipated addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) appears to have officially stalled, with little chance of revival. The project—starring Mahershala Ali as the iconic Daywalker—has faced numerous setbacks over the years, and recent developments suggest it may never return to production.
Flying Lotus recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm what many fans had begun to suspect: *Blade* is no longer moving forward—at least for now. The musician revealed he was originally signed on to compose music for the film before it fell apart. “I guess we are so far from it even being a possibility now,” he admitted. “Yeah I was signed on to write music for the new BLADE movie before it fell thru. Maybe it'll come around again but I doubt it. Would have been fun tho.”
His comments were soon followed by revelations from award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter, best known for her work on *Black Panther*, who confirmed during an episode of *The John Campea Show* that she was set to design costumes for *Blade*. Even more intriguing? The film was reportedly set in the 1920s, promising a unique visual aesthetic and rich historical backdrop that could have brought a fresh perspective to the MCU.
Adding to the growing list of confirmations about the film’s collapse, actor Delroy Lindo—who was also cast in a key role alongside Mahershala Ali—shared his disappointment in a recent interview with *Entertainment Weekly*. He described early conversations with Marvel as collaborative and exciting, noting the studio's interest in including diverse perspectives. However, like many others involved, he ultimately witnessed the project unravel without clear explanation.
Originally announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, *Blade* was expected to debut as early as November 2025. Over time, the film cycled through multiple directors, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, none of whom remained attached long enough to bring the project to fruition.
In October 2024, Marvel quietly removed *Blade* from its release schedule, offering no immediate replacement date. Just a month later, MCU chief Kevin Feige reiterated the studio’s commitment to bringing Blade into the universe. “We are committed to Blade. We love the character, we love Mahershala's take on him,” he stated during an interview with *Omelete*. “And rest assured: whenever we change direction with a project, or are still figuring out how it fits into our schedule, we let the audience know. You're all up to date on what's happening. But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU.”