Mahershala Ali expressed his frustration over the stalled Blade reboot and Marvel’s silence during the premiere of Jurassic World: Dominion in New York on Monday.
The Oscar-winning actor told The Hollywood Reporter he’s still in the dark about the long-delayed project, which was first announced nearly six years ago at San Diego Comic-Con. In 2019, the Marvel fandom was filled with excitement when Kevin Feige took the stage and announced that Mahershala Ali, a two-time Oscar-winning powerhouse, would play ‘Blade‘, the legendary vampire slayer, bringing the Daywalker into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The news felt like a game-changer, as an A-list actor was set to take on one of Marvel’s darkest and most stylish heroes. However, now, nearly six years later, fans are still waiting and so is Ali.
At the premiere of his latest film ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, Mahershala Ali offered a short but telling update when asked about the long-delayed Blade movie “Call Marvel,” he said. “Let them know I’m ready.” It was a statement heavy with both resolve and frustration. After years of creative stops and starts, multiple directors hired and then let go, key cast members walking away, and repeated production delays, it’s hard not to feel the weariness creeping in.