Mahershala Ali has officially confirmed that he will no longer be participating in Marvel's Blade film. The actor, who was set to star as the titular vampire hunter, stated in a recent interview that he has "the door has fully closed" on the project.
Speaking with GQ, Ali clarified his position on the film, which has faced numerous developmental hurdles and director changes since its initial announcement. "Not with me," Ali stated when asked if Blade was any closer to becoming a reality. He attributed the project's stagnation to Marvel Studios, noting that "If they wanted to do the movie, we would've done the movie. So we're not doing the movie." Marvel boss Kevin Feige had previously described the inability to get Blade off the ground as a "failure."
The actor's comments come as he promotes his upcoming film, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, directed by Bassim Tariq. Tariq was the original director attached to Blade in 2021 but departed the project a year later due to ongoing delays. Yann Demange later took over as director but exited in 2024.
Ali indicated that his collaboration with Tariq on Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother was a conscious choice, stating that he had to choose between that film and Blade. "And I'll take this," Ali said, adding that the new project "feels very much in alignment with the type of work I want to be known for." He suggested that any further inquiries about the Blade film's status should be directed to Marvel.