Full Breakdown
Kevin Feige Calls Blade Reboot a Personal Failure as Development Stalls
7/22/2026, 10:52:43 AM
Core Event: Feige’s Admission of a “Gigantic Loser” Over Blade
The comment came while promoting *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* and underscored that the long-delayed *Blade* reboot starring Mahershala Ali remains unfinished.
Background & Context
Marvel announced in 2019 at San Diego Comic-Con that Ali would inherit the Blade mantle from Wesley Snipes. The project was slated for a 2023 release but encountered a cascade of setbacks: the original director Bassam Tariq left in September 2022, his replacement Yann Demange departed in 2024, and the screenplay cycled through multiple writers, including Stacy Osei-Kuffour and Michael Starrbury. The 2023 Writers Guild strike further stalled progress. Disney removed the film from its release calendar in late 2024, citing creative concerns.
Timeline
- 2019 – Blade reboot announced; Mahershala Ali revealed.
- September 2022 – Director Bassam Tariq exits.
- 2024 – Director Yann Demange exits; Wesley Snipes returns for a cameo in *Deadpool & Wolverine*.
- Late 2024 – Disney pulls Blade from its slate.
- 2025 – Feige discusses the stalled project on a podcast and at a press event.
- 2025 – Mahershala Ali tells reporters he is ready whenever Marvel calls.
Data & Statistics
- Two directors have left the project.
- Multiple screenwriters (at least five) have been attached.
- The film received four proposed release windows (Nov 2023, Sep 2024, Feb 2025, Nov 2025) before being removed from the calendar.
Official Statements & Responses
Mahershala Ali confirmed in a 2025 interview that he remains “ready” and is waiting for Marvel to give the “call.”
Wesley Snipes’ cameo in *Deadpool & Wolverine* was described by Feige as “very exciting,” but he reiterated that the standalone Blade film has yet to materialize.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Some outlets describe the reboot as effectively dead, citing Disney’s removal of the title from the calendar and the absence of a director or production schedule. Other sources note that Marvel has not issued an official cancellation and that Feige has kept the door open for future development. No public statement has confirmed a new creative direction, leaving the project’s status ambiguous.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We didn’t want to simply just put a leather outfit on him and have him start killing vampires,” — Mr. Feige, marvel studios president
- “It fell into the time when we started pulling back and saying, ‘Only accept insanely great,'” — Mr. Feige, marvel studios president
- “We didn’t feel like we often do, you can have a good script and make it a great script through production,” — Mr. Feige, marvel studios president
- “I was very excited about the direction it was going,” — Actress Mia Goth
- “We love the character, we love Mahershala’s version of him. And rest assured: whenever we change direction with a project, or are still trying to figure out how it fits into our schedule, we let the public know,” — Mr. Feige, marvel studios president
What’s Next
Marvel has not announced a new director, production timeline, or release window for the Blade reboot. Feige did not disclose any forthcoming creative plan, and the studio has indicated that any future decision will be communicated publicly when it is made. The project remains in development limbo.
