Marvel Studios president and creative lead Kevin Feige has spoken candidly about the protracted development of the upcoming Blade film starring Mahershala Ali, admitting he feels a sense of failure regarding its stalled progress. The project has been mired in development hell for several years, undergoing numerous director and writer changes and most recently being removed from Disney's release schedule in October 2024.
In a snippet from an interview with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Feige was asked about the status of the Blade movie. He responded by saying, "I’m feeling very excited that we got Wesley back for a time in Deadpool and Wolverine, and like a gigantic loser and failure that we didn’t get off the ground with Mahershala." This comment alludes to Wesley Snipes, who previously portrayed Blade on screen, appearing in a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, while the new film starring Ali has yet to materialize.
Marvel initially announced the new Blade film in 2019, with Ali's voice briefly heard as the character in a cameo in Eternals. Since then, the film has faced significant hurdles. While actress Mia Goth confirmed last October that she remains attached to the project in the role of Lilith, persistent rumors earlier this year suggested the film might be canceled in favor of a Midnight Sons movie that would incorporate the Blade character. It remains unclear whether Feige's statement signifies a complete abandonment of the standalone film or simply acknowledges the repeated false starts and production delays. The full context of Feige's remarks is expected when the complete podcast episode is released.