Marvel Studios has once again shifted its focus, and Blade is no longer part of its current theatrical roadmap. Disney officially pulled the film from its release calendar in 2024, marking another setback for the long-developing reboot of the vampire hunter franchise. Yet Blade hasn’t vanished entirely—the character is about to resurface in a different corner of the MCU.
Originally planned for 2024, Blade was later delayed to November 2025 before being removed altogether. The project has faced hurdle after hurdle since its announcement in 2019, including multiple director and writer changes. Yann Demange was the most recent filmmaker to exit, following in the footsteps of Bassam Tariq and others. Writers like Stacy Osei-Kaffeur, Michael Starbury, Michael Green, and Nic Pizzolato were also involved at different points. Mahershala Ali remains attached as the Daywalker, with Mia Goth still slated to co-star.
“For the last few years, we’ve been trying to crack that movie,” Kevin Feige told Black Tree TV in 2024.
“I think the most important thing for us is not rushing it and making sure that we’re making the right Blade movie because there were some great Blade movies years ago.” The Marvel chief was pointing to the original trilogy starring Wesley Snipes, released between 1998 and 2004.
After months of uncertainty, the project was officially removed from the slate on October 22, 2024.
“In what comes as no surprise, Marvel Studios’ Blade won’t be coming out on November 7, 2025; rather, Disney is opening 20th Century Studios’ Predator: Badlands,” Deadline reported.
Predator: Badlands continues the story from Prey, the 2022 film that revitalized the franchise. Dan Trachtenberg returns as director, and Elle Fanning will star.
Though the Blade delay will disappoint many fans, Wesley Snipes did make a big-screen return in Deadpool & Wolverine, which soared past the billion-dollar mark in summer 2024. Meanwhile, Marvel has plenty of room to reinsert Blade in the future. Three untitled films are already set for 2028, with February 18, May 5, and November 10 locked to usher in Phase Seven after Avengers: Secret Wars closes out Phase Six in December 2027.
While audiences wait for Ali’s version, another actor will step in—at least in animation. Invincible star Todd Williams has joined the cast of Marvel Zombies, voicing a Multiversal Blade Variant known as Blade Knight.
“Surprisingly, this might also act as the debut for Blade in the Marvel film line, with actor Todd Williams taking on a very different interpretation of the Day Walker,” Comic Book noted.
Marvel Zombies, arriving as part of Phase Six, expands on the What If…? episode that first introduced the concept of zombified Avengers. Originally pitched as a feature-length project, the series evolved into a four-part Disney+ miniseries. Zeb Wells is the creator and head writer, with Bryan Andrews as showrunner and director. Stellar Creative Lab provides the animation.
The story diverges from Robert Kirkman’s comic, following survivors as they battle infected versions of Earth’s heroes and villains. Returning voice actors include Iman Vellani, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Hailee Steinfeld, and Dominique Thorne. Elizabeth Olsen is back as Wanda Maximoff, joined by Randall Park and Awkwafina. The infected side includes zombified Captain Marvel, Ikaris, Hawkeye, Ghost, and Abomination.
Kevin Feige has confirmed that Ali is still set to headline the Blade film whenever it moves forward. He revealed that Marvel considered four versions of the project—including both period-set and contemporary approaches—before ultimately landing on a modern-day story.
Marvel Zombies will launch September 24, 2025, with all episodes released simultaneously. The date was originally October 3, but was moved forward to give fans an earlier look.
The shift for Blade aligns with Disney’s updated release strategy under CEO Bob Iger, which scales back Marvel’s annual output to three films and two Disney+ series. Feige later told reporters that too much crossover between TV and film may have contributed to audiences losing interest in certain theatrical projects.
In 2024, Iger stressed the importance of quality control after several uneven years for the brand. To that end, Brad Winderbaum has implemented a new system on the Marvel TV side to reshape the creative pipeline.
The streamlined approach has trimmed 2025’s Marvel lineup to just three projects. Captain America: Brave New World opened in February, followed by Thunderbolts* in May. July saw the debut of The Fantastic Four: The First Steps, which kicked off Phase Six.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is already on the way. Tom Holland confirmed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that filming begins in 2025, with a theatrical release scheduled for July 31, 2026.
With Blade still off the calendar, the central question remains: when will Mahershala Ali finally step into the role of Marvel’s iconic Daywalker?
How do you feel about Blade’s removal from the schedule? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
