Earlier today it was reported that Marvel and Disney has quietly removed the long-awaited Blade reboot, which was set for release on November 7, 2025 from their schedule indefinitely, which has pissed off the fans of the legendary daywalker
via: Daily Mail
At 50, two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali is only 12 years older than original star Wesley Snipes, but he signed on to replace him as the half-vampire, vampire hunter Eric Brooks five years ago.
'We're working on it. That's the best I could tell you,' Mahershala (born Mahershalalhashbaz) updated EW on December 5.
'I'm really encouraged with the direction of the project. I think we'll be back at it relatively soon.'
Ali made his MCU debut back in 2016 as Cornell 'Cottonmouth' Stokes in Netflix series Luke Cage, and he provided an off-camera voiceover line as Blade for the post-credits scene of Marvel's 2021 failed franchise film, Eternals.
Fans can thank Ryan Reynolds for sparking renewed interest in Wesley as Blade after having him reprise the role in Shawn Levy's critically-acclaimed blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, which amassed $1.337B at the global box office.
'There's only been one Blade,' the Independent Spirit Award nominee ominously warned at gunpoint in the film. 'There's only ever gonna be one Blade.'
The wisecracking Canadian - turning 48 on Wednesday - lead a social media campaign in August for Snipes to get 'a Logan-like send off' just like his buddy Hugh Jackman did for Wolverine.
Ryan - who boasts 122.6M social media followers - tweeted: 'There is no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade first creating a market. He's Marvel Daddy.'
Wesley broke two Guinness World Records with Deadpool & Wolverine - longest career as a live-action Marvel character (1998's Blade) and longest gap between character appearances (since 2004's Blade: Trinity).
Reaction to the news Tuesday was swift with fans demanding the return of Snipes to the 'cursed' film and accusing Marvel of 'doing Mahershala Ali dirty.'
Instgram user @its.beezy_ commented on the news: 'Wesley put a curse on this movie I'm convinced.'
'Mahershala being disrespected like this hurts [for real],' Instagram user @jpeeezy_ wrote.
'Oscar winner, incredible actor & they can't my man a proper script and production.'
Instagram user @vibeworldx agreed: '[To be honest] I like Wesley Snipes but Mahershala earned the role like anyone else. Man is an Oscar winner I want him as Blade. Wesley already did a good job I'm ready for a new interpretation.'
'How has Ali not dropped out yet? He's 50 already. Dude's not getting any younger,' @there_will_be_josh commented.
Instagram user @jasito1985 noted: 'His @deadpool quote lives on.'
The Blade reboot has been plagued with delays, setbacks, and strikes beginning with the 2022 exit of director Bassam Tariq - who was then replaced by Yann Demange, who exited the troubled film in June.
Transformers One screenwriter Eric Pearson was hired after passes by Michael Green, Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Michael Starrbury, Beau DeMayo, and Nic Pizzolatto.
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