Marvel's Blade Movie: Release Date, Cast, And More About The MCU Movie Reboot

Mahershala Ali as sunglasses-wearing Vector in Alita: Battle Angel
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

There is a lot to look forward to from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the many upcoming Marvel movies heading to theaters, and many upcoming Marvel TV shows to stream with a Disney+ subscription. However, one of the most hotly anticipated projects is Marvel’s Blade movie.

The reboot is still a subject of mystery for fans looking forward to seeing the big screen return of the most iconic vampire hunter in comic book history, especially with two-time Academy Award winner (and one-time rap artist) Mahershala Ali in the title role. For anyone who feels like they have been waiting a vampire’s lifespan for the new Blade movie, perhaps we can bring you up to speed on all the most essential things to know about one of the most long-awaited upcoming superhero movies, starting with when fans will finally be able to see it.

What Is The Blade Release Date?

Blade logo

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

At the moment, Blade is set to come out on Friday, November 7, 2025. This would mark the third time that the comic book adaptation's opening date -- previously set for Valentine's Day of that year -- has been delayed in the past year.

The MCU Phase 5 installment was previously given a November 2023 release date during Marvel's Hall H Panel at 2022's San Diego Comic-Con, before it would end up on the upcoming 2024 movies schedule when it was pushed back to September 6th of that year.

Blade Is A Half-Vampire Who Hunts Creatures Of The Night

Marvel Comics artwork of vampire hunter Blade

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

When it comes to the story, there really is not much that we know at the moment, save "industry scooper" Daniel Richtman's claim that the film is a period piece in which demon sorcerer Lilith goes after Blade's daughter (via JoBlo). This detail has not been confirmed, but we have a good feeling that the movie will feature the title character hunting vampires – not just based on the previous films that focused on his adventures, but also his history in Marvel comics.

Created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, Blade (whose real name is Eric Brooks) is a human born with vampiric abilities as a result of the nefarious bloodsucker, Dr. Deacon Frost, feasting on his mother as she gave birth to him. Readers first got a taste of his expertise in preying on creatures of the night when he took on the most famous one of all in 1973’s Tomb of Dracula, Vol. 1, Issue 10. He has also crossed paths with Morbius the Living Vampire, whom we once predicted would likely lose in a fight with Blade.

There is also another rumor, reported by Knight Edge Media, that suggests Marvel Studios is developing a movie about the Midnight Sons -- a team of heroes (and anti-heroes) each with a supernatural specialty, including Ghost Rider, Moon Knight, and, of course, Blade. If the gossip rings true, the film would bring composer Michael Giacchino (who helmed Disney+'s Werewolf by Night special) back to the director's chair.

Mahershala Ali Leads The Cast As Blade

While many fans of of the original trilogy would have loved to see Wesley Snipes reprise the Daywalker, the award-winning actor succeeding him is an undeniably exciting choice. Let's take a look at him and the other members of the Blade cast (whose roles are undisclosed at the moment) below.

Mahershala Ali (Blade)

Mahershala Ali in Alita: Battle Angel

(Image credit: Disney / Fox)

The announcement that Blade was in development at SDCC 2019 came with the reveal that Mahershala Ali, who had previously played another MCU character ("Cottonmouth" on Luke Cage), would take over the title role from Wesley Snipes, having pitched the idea in the first place. Ali would, technically, debut in the role with a vocal cameo in an Eternals post-credits scene, as director Chloé Zhao confirmed to Fandom later.

Mia Goth

Mia Goth in Pearl.

(Image credit: A24)

In April 2023, Mia Goth was added to the Blade cast after previously scaring audiences in acclaimed A24 horror movies X and Pearl (which she will follow-up with another upcoming A24 movie called MaXXXine) and in Brandon Cronenberg’s twisted satire, Infinity Pool. We have no word on who she is playing, but have a few ideas of what Marvel characters Goth could play.

Delroy Lindo

Delroy Lindo in The Harder They Fall

(Image credit: Netflix)

Veteran actor Delroy Lindo -- best known from Spike Lee movies like Malcolm X and one of the best Westerns on Netflix, The Harder They Fall, to name a few -- is making his comic book movie debut with Blade. However, his MCU induction almost came earlier when he starred in an unaired pilot for an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spin-off called Marvel's Most Wanted.

Former Krypton cast member Aaron Pierre was also set to make his Marvel debut in Blade, but he revealed to Variety in March 2024 that he is no longer involved with the film.

What Will Blade Be Rated?

Blade

(Image credit: New Line Cinema)

According to director Yann Demange's testimony to Deadline, Blade is going to be rated R. This is yet another detail that remains unofficial, but we hope his word rings true, considering the eponymous anti-hero's previous cinematic adventures were also branded as such by the MPA. Also, quite frankly, it would only be appropriate that a movie about bloodsucking creatures include more blood than a PG-13 rating would allow, even if Wesley Snipes disagrees.

Yann Demange Is Directing Blade

A creature from Lovecraft Country

(Image credit: HBO)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Yann Demange was brought on to helm the Blade reboot in November 2022. The Parisian filmmaker previously directed 2014's '71 and 2018's White Boy Rick, but he is arguably best known for helming the thrilling pilot for HBO's Emmy-winning horror series, Lovecraft Country. He is actually the second person hired for the job, having replaced Mogul Mowgli helmer Bassam Tariq.

As of November 2023, Blade's current writer is Michael Green, who received an Oscar nomination for collaborating on the screenplay for Logan with Scott Frank and director James Mangold. The reboot was previously going to mark a reunion between Ali and True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto, who took over screenwriting duties in April and was reportedly working off of a draft by Emmy nominee Michael Starburry. However, the first person hired to pen Blade, in February 2021 was fellow Emmy nominee Stacy Osei-Kuffour, whose last experience writing a comic book adaptation was the acclaimed Watchmen TV series on HBO.

While promoting his 2023 Netflix movie, Leave the World Behind, Mahershala Ali told EW that he is "really encouraged with the direction of the project." In the meantimes, fans and fans-to-be can check out the original Blade movie and its sequels. They can also rewatch all the Marvel movies in order before the MCU brings the character back from the dead.

Jason Wiese
Content Writer

Jason Wiese writes feature stories for CinemaBlend. His occupation results from years dreaming of a filmmaking career, settling on a "professional film fan" career, studying journalism at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO (where he served as Culture Editor for its student-run print and online publications), and a brief stint of reviewing movies for fun. He would later continue that side-hustle of film criticism on TikTok (@wiesewisdom), where he posts videos on a semi-weekly basis. Look for his name in almost any article about Batman.