Mahershala Ali has expressed gratitude to Marvel for providing a year of physical training, which he says effectively helped finance his new film, 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.' The acclaimed actor is set to star in the action thriller, written and directed by Bassam Tariq, who was previously attached to direct Marvel's Blade.

Ali and Tariq initially collaborated when Blade was slated for production, but the project experienced significant delays and was ultimately scrapped. The pair have now reunited for 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother,' allowing Ali to utilize the fitness he attained for the Marvel film. "It was a little more than a year," Ali told Deadline regarding his training for Blade. "And actually I'm really grateful, they helped pay for our movie, so thank you. We wouldn't, we couldn't have afforded to... there's no way we could have [done] this film and I got to go train for a year. So at this point, I'm so grateful that they made a wonderful contribution to our film."

When asked about the status of Marvel's Blade, Ali definitively stated, "I'm done. I'm doing this and anything else moving forward. I'm over that, I'm done with that."

Marvel announced its intention to produce a Blade film starring Ali in 2019. However, the project faced numerous setbacks over seven years and has now been canceled. Ali had previously indicated he had moved on from the possibility of Blade ever being made, suggesting that Marvel Studios itself held the key to its production given his contractual status and the studio's financial resources.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige acknowledged the project's collapse, admitting he felt like a "gigantic loser and failure" over the situation. Feige revealed that Blade had undergone several different iterations, including period pieces, before a modern adaptation was considered. He cited a lack of confidence in refining the script during production as the reason for shelving the film, aiming to avoid disappointment for both Ali and the studio.

Despite its cancellation, the Blade reboot had progressed significantly, with a full wardrobe created for supporting artists that was later repurposed for Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners.' Mia Goth had also been cast and participated in costume fittings, including trying on a 1920s wig, before the project unraveled.

While Marvel Studios has not indicated whether a new iteration of Blade will be pursued, the studio has confirmed Ryan Gosling will portray Ghost Rider in a new MCU film scheduled for 2028. This development has led to speculation about a potential introduction of the Midnight Sons team, which could include Blade.

'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother' is scheduled to be released in theaters on September 25.