San Diego Comic Con 2019 – Mahershala Ali Confirmed As Blade

After the news that Natalie Portman as female Thor in Thor: Love And Thunder. Marvel announced the return of the Daywalker, aka Blade and to be played by Mahershala Ali.

Marvel Cinematic Universe may now be in its 11th year, Blade was one of their pre-MCU films. Released in 1998 it help paved the way for future films, rightly it’s becoming a part of the universe.

We’ve know for a little while that Blade was returning but who was playing the half human half vampire warrior? Like anything it came with so much speculation, even some saying Wesley Snipes. As Marvel Studio boss Kevin Feige was finishing his part on the reboot, the actor revealed himself. None other than Oscar winning actor Mahershala Ali.

You have to go away back to July 1973 and comic book The Tomb of Dracula #10. Created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, he was originally only a ing character, eventually getting his own title decades later. It was Snipes who portrayed the character in Blade (1998),Blade II (2002) and Blade: Trinity (2004). Sticky Fingaz took over for the 2006 TV series but only lasted 1 season.

Here’s Marvel’s actually lowdown on the character…
The vampire Deacon Frost bit Eric Brooks’ mother while she was pregnant with him, resulting in the birth of a human with all of the strengths of a vampire and none of their weaknesses save one: a never-ending thirst for human blood!

The big question will be what type of reboot are Marvel going for? Will Snipes play a part in the film be it only as a cameo? With Disney’s dominance in film and comic book films, its unlikely the film will be an R-Rated film. If anything it will be a borderline 12A (PG-13 in USA).

Ali himself is no stranger to Marvel. Recently playing villain Cottonmouth in the Luke Cage series and voice of Morales uncle in Spider-Man: Into The Spider Verse.

What other cast will they go for? Same can be said about the director. Marvel and Disney studios will be keen to continue the balance within franchise in regards to race, gender and sexuality. Most of all how will Blade fit into the universe and will the introduce him as a cameo in another film?

Blade rebooted film will be part of Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 5. No release date has been confirmed but that could change at August’s D23 event.