Marvel Studios’ long-anticipated Blade reboot has hit yet another roadblock, with Disney officially removing it from their 2025 release slate. Originally set for a 2024 release and later rescheduled for November 2025, the film—starring Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali—has been in development turmoil for years. This latest setback only deepens concerns about whether the Blade reboot will ever materialize.
Development issues have plagued the project since its inception. As early as 2019, the film has seen a revolving door of writers and directors. From Stacy Osei-Kaffeur to Bassam Tariq and Michael Starbury, and most recently, Yann Demange—who recently departed the project—the project appears to have no clear vision. The challenge of successfully bringing Blade into the MCU remains elusive, even with talent like Ali and actress Mia Goth attached to the project.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige commented on the struggle to get the project right, saying, “For the last few years, we’ve been trying to crack that movie… 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.” Feige’s reference to the iconic Wesley Snipes trilogy of the late 90s and early 2000s underscores the challenge: fans have high expectations, and the MCU’s Blade needs to deliver.
Yesterday, on October 22, Marvel’s decision became official: Blade will not meet its planned 2025 release. Instead, Disney has replaced the slot with Predator: Badlands, a follow-up to the 2022 hit Prey, directed by Dan Trachtenberg. This comes as little surprise to fans who have closely followed the film’s troubled development.
For those holding out hope, the MCU still offers a glimmer of potential for Blade. With multiple open slots in 2026 and 2027, there’s room for the vampire-hunting superhero to make his return. There’s speculation that one of these dates—possibly November—could ultimately become the release window for Blade.
The delays also come at a time of sweeping change within Marvel Studios. Disney CEO Bob Iger has recently confirmed stricter release policies for the MCU, capping output at three films and two Disney+ series per year. This shift is intended to ensure higher-quality content following what has been one of the studio’s most turbulent creative periods. As part of these new guidelines, Blade’s removal from the 2025 schedule leaves just three movies on Marvel’s Phase Five roster: Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, and The Fantastic Four: The First Steps.
While fans of Blade will surely be disappointed by the continued setbacks, there’s still hope on the horizon. In the meantime, Wesley Snipes’ return to the big screen in this year’s Deadpool & Wolverine has kept the daywalker legacy alive in some capacity. However, the question remains: will Marvel finally find the right mix of talent to bring Blade into the MCU in a way that honors both the past films and the franchise’s new direction?
Ultimately, Feige and Marvel Studios must navigate the delicate balance of respecting the legacy of Snipes’ portrayal while crafting a modern take that fits the MCU’s evolving landscape. Until then, fans will have to wait and see where Blade lands, but one thing is clear: the path to this iconic character’s MCU debut is still fraught with challenges.
How do you feel about Blade‘s removal?