‘RIP Blade’: Key MCU Collaborator Urges Marvel to Recast Mahershala Ali

Mintu Kumar TomarFri, July 24, 2026 at 3:49 PM UTC

0

Photo Credit: Marvel Studios

A key Marvel Studios collaborator on the long-delayed Blade reboot has urged the studio to recast Mahershala Ali. Initially announced at San Diego Comic-Con back in 2019, the highly anticipated film has struggled to make meaningful progress after years of behind-the-scenes turmoil.

What the Blade Logo Designer Said About the MCU Movie’s Future

Ahead of San Diego Comic-Con 2026, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige addressed the long-delayed reboot, admitting disappointment over the project’s inability to move forward with its Oscar-winning lead: “I am feeling like a gigantic loser and failure that we didn’t get off the ground with Mahershala.”

Just days after Feige’s candid response, Blade movie’s logo designer, Justin Claus Harder, shared an Instagram post. Being upset for the movie not ever going into production, he wrote, “RIP BLADE!”

Claus Harder continued, “We hardly knew ye!! Shame they couldn’t get this one off the ground but it was awesome to see my logo revealed at Hall H in 2019, and I’m still super proud of it!!”

Advertisement

Despite the setback, Harder urged Marvel Studios to keep the branding intact and jumpstart production. “I’m hoping the logo stays and that they recast!!” he wrote.

Following its original announcement seven years ago, Bassam Tariq was said to direct the Blade movie. However, he left the project in 2022, and Yann Demange took over the film. Unfortunately, he also stayed for a brief time before leaving in 2024.

This led to an indefinite delay for the anticipated movie. Marvel also tried to bring writers such as Michael Starrbury and Stacy Osei-Kuffour to make some progress on the story. But nothing really worked out in the long term.

Going by an old report from Variety, there was a version of the script focusing on a female-led narrative. Also, there were elements involved regarding life lessons, and Mahershala Ali’s role was reportedly relegated significantly despite him being the lead actor.

At the moment, the Blade movie seems to have been canceled at Marvel Studios.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”