Since 2019, the fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have waited patiently and ardently for the arrival of Mahershala Ali’s vampire-hunter. And yet, Blade is yet to make progress on its script and filming, 5 whole years down the line.
![Mahershala Ali in Alita: Battle Angel [Credit: 20th Century Studios]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/30161600/Mahershala-Ali-in-Alita-Battle-Angel-Credit-20th-Century-Studios-1024x558.jpg "Mahershala Ali in Alita: Battle Angel [Credit: 20th Century Studios]")
With no optimistic update on the film’s development and after the loss of several writers and directors over the past couple of years, it looks as though the story of the Daywalker might finally reach the big screen in 2025 with Marvel Studios charting out an exclusive release schedule for the Phase Six supernatural action thriller.
Blade Faces Down the Barrel of MCU Phase Six Gun
After Wesley Snipes‘s historical run as Blade in the eponymous trilogy, Mahershala Ali takes over the mantle of the Marvel superhero 20+ years later in a highly-anticipated MCU reboot. However, to do that, one would need a fully functional production team with an operational script and a director in charge of the film.
![Wesley Snipes as Blade [Credit: New Line Cinema/Warner Bros.]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/30161405/Blade-II-2002-Credit-New-Line-Cinema-Warner-Bros-1024x669.jpg "Wesley Snipes as Blade [Credit: New Line Cinema/Warner Bros.]")
With months leading into years, Blade has already witnessed 2 promising directors exiting the project and numerous versions of its script being scrapped due to creative differences between the writers and the lead.
Now, facing a strict deadline from the higher-ups at Marvel Studios, the movie looks at a decisive Phase Six release timeline, dated 2025. With no more wiggle room left, Mahershala Ali finally needs to overcome the disputes and dissension since Blade is no longer a stand-alone feature but also holds the fate of a potential Midnight Sons project slated to be released shortly after.
Mahershala Ali’s Blade Could Redeem the MCU
In a fascinating storyline that brings the Hulk and Blade together for a rollercoaster adventure involving demons, the two Marvel superheroes band together to take down an evil creature that leaves a town full of people feeling terrorized and helpless.
![Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk [Credit: Marvel Studios]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/30161514/Mark-Ruffalos-Hulk-1024x680.jpg "Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk [Credit: Marvel Studios]")
Although simplistic in its central plot, what makes it so delightful is it dives completely into the supernatural elements that make the dark and sinister world of Blade a step apart from the realm of his fellow Avengers. Simultaneously, it merges the scientific and logical mind of Dr. Bruce Banner in solving the mystery of the demon-infested town – giving the story a balanced tone that neither swerves toward the realm of fantasy nor leans too much into technical aspects of the superhero business while also adding a touch of a noir detective element to the plot.
With Marvel yet to debut Hulk in his standalone feature within the MCU, this team-up adventure with Blade is the closest storyline that can allow Mark Ruffalo to flesh out an arc of his own while taking down evil baddies with the unlikeliest of partners among all the Avengers one could ask for.
Although this arc does little to repair the damage that has been done to the franchise, it will offer the fans a little reprieve from the ‘Superhero fatigue’ that has been looming large over the collective head of the fans since the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame.
Blade is slated to premiere in 2025.
