It’s been a long road for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Blade, since the character’s solo film was announced back in 2019. Mahershala Ali’s Daywalker does have a vocal cameo in Eternals and appears as a supporting character (voiced by Todd Williams) on Marvel Zombies. Despite that, Ali’s solo film seemingly remains in limbo for right now. New rumors suggest, however, that the half-vampire warrior could appear in two big MCU films. WIth that, I now have a big question regarding those purported appearances.

What Two MCU Projects Is Blade Allegedly Being Featured In?

There are still several key titles on Marvel’s slate of upcoming movies though, of course, there are surely still productions the studio is working on that have yet to be revealed. As far as Eric Brooks (a.k.a. Blade) goes, it’s recently been rumored that he’ll appear in the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars and, per a more recent piece of superhero gossip, he’ll also appear in a Midnight Sons movie This information comes by way of insider Daniel Richtman’s patreon (via ComicBookMovie).

Of course, all of this should be taken with a massive grain of salt, especially the Midnight Sons bit, given such a project has not been confirmed by Marvel. Still, Ritchman alleges that the previously mentioned vampire hunter will have a “big role” in that proposed flick. It would honestly make sense for the character to be in that film, given how long the character has been synonymous with that team of supernatural-tinged vigilantes across the comics.

It would also make sense for Ali’s antihero to appear in Secret Wars, which is apparently much different from other Avengers films. Anyone who’s read either of the Secret Wars comic book runs likely knows there are a lot of characters involved, and the MCU could easily follow suit in that regard. Even though the prospect of the Daywalker being involved in one of the movies is exciting, there’s still reason to wonder about one very important detail.

These Blade Rumors Prompt A Very Important Question

With Blade supposedly set to be utilized in two forthcoming MCU films, there’s one question we all really need to ask: Which version of the character are we going to see? I mean, given the multiversal nature of the MCU, fans could end up seeing either Mahershala Ali’s Eric or even Wesley Snipes’. My first thought would be that Ali’s iteration of the vampiric character would be involved in Secret Wars and Midnight Sons. However, the reemergence of Snipes’ beloved variant of Brooks may throw that into question.

Snipes was called upon by Ryan Reynolds to reprise his role as the vampire hunter for 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine. In the movie, Eric teams up with the titular protagonists along with others like Jennifer Garner’s Elektra and Channing Tatum’s Gambit to stop Cassandra Nova. Snipes’ surprise reprisal was lauded by fans and it also landed him a major record. With his appearance in D&W, Snipes earned the Guinness World Record for the longest stint playing a live-action Marvel character. It might seem more reasonable for Ali’s Brooks to appear in a Sons project but, in a post-Secret Wars continuity, the status quo could change.

As for Mahershala Ali’s Blade movie, some reports allege that the project is “dead” after having lost multiple directors and experienced various script changes. Nevertheless, cast member Mia Goth still expressed optimism about the film’s status around the fall of 2025, saying that Marvel still wanted “to make a great movie.” Personally, I hope the project still happens with Ali and that he does appear in another MCU movie like Midnight Sons. Nevertheless, who am I to count out Wesley Snipes at this point?

Avengers: Secret Wars is set to open in theaters on December 17, 2027. In the meantime, fans can stream Deadpool & Wolverine alongside other MCU films using a Disney+ subscription.

It was a big deal when Mahershala Ali walked onto the Hall H stage at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 as part of Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige’s announcement that the actor would lead a Blade reboot. And yet, six and a half years later, all we have to show for this is Ali making a voice cameo as Marvel’s Daywalker in Eternals. Blade keeps getting hit with setbacks, and now there’s a rumor claiming that the upcoming Marvel movie is “dead,” though there may still be some hope for Ali’s vampire hunter.

Let’s cover the potentially bad news first. The Hot Mic co-host Jeff Sneider claimed in the show’s latest episode that he’s heard Blade is no longer moving forward. That on its own would be disappointing. After all, Wesley Snipes led three Blade movies from 1998 to 2004, and while their qualities all differed, you’d think it would’ve been easy enough for the powers-that-be at Marvel Studios to seamlessly throw in Blade going around and killing vampires fit within the Marvel Cinematic Universe mythology.

Well, that’s where the good news comes in, because we may still get to see that. Jeff Sneider also mentioned that Blade will now be introduced in a Midnight Sons movie instead, but didn’t mention any further details about it. Assuming this information is accurate, while it’s disappointing that Marvel Studios won’t make that solo Blade movie that got many fans pumped at the end of the 2010s (I would have especially liked to see the 1920s-set version), it hasn’t entirely abandoned the character.

Created by Howard Mackie, Andy Kubert and Bobbie Chase, the original Midnight Sons team made its first full appearance in 1992’s Ghost Rider #31. The first lineup consisted of Blade, Morbius, Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch, with the latter two being Ghost Riders. The team has primarily consisted of supernatural and darker Marvel characters, including Wolverine, Doctor Strange, Magik, Iron Fist, Man-Thing, Moon Knight, Scarlet Witch and Werewolf by Night, among many others.

Outside of the comics, the team has only headlined the video game Marvel’s Midnight Suns (notice the altered spelling), which came out in 2022 and earned positive critical reception, but failed to sell well. So this rumored Midnight Sons/Suns movie would be the group’s biggest introduction to the general public, and Mahershala Ali would play Blade as part of an ensemble rather than as the lead character. I’d be ok with this, especially if it means we would see him team up with established MCU characters like Ghost Rider (this time the Robbie Reyes version), Moon Knight and Man-Thing.

However, until Marvel Studios announces that Blade is dead and/or that Midnight Sons has gotten the greenlight, take all this with a grain of salt. What we can count on is that Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday are the next MCU movies coming up, arriving July 31 and December 18, respectively, on the 2026 release schedule.

Jurassic World Rebirth was one of the biggest 2025 movie releases at the box office, but following recent years of disappointment I’ve had about the series, I decided to skip out on going out to see it this summer. Now that it recently moved to streaming, I finally got the chance to watch it, and I have to say, it’s a lot better than I expected. I enjoyed how it included a lot of ingredients that made the original movie a classic, but also took some new turns with its storyline I hadn’t seen before. Because I watched it knowing a sequel is in development, I want to talk about what I’d want most out of a followup.

Earlier this month, a report came out that director Gareth Edwards is in “final negotiations” to helm another Jurassic World movie after Rebirth made $868.8 million worldwide after opening during 4th of July weekend. Here’s the main aspects from Rebirth I’d want to see continue in a sequel.

I Want To See Scarlett Johansson And Jonathan Bailey Lead It Again

Jurassic movies have been able to ride the line between being acclaimed and B-movie monster flicks thanks to the talented actors that have been a part of them for the past three decades. In terms of Rebirth, I found myself quickly getting invested in Scarlett Johansson’s Zora Bennett and Jonathan Bailey’s Dr. Henry Loomis.

I’ve always liked the kind of magic Johansson can bring to the movies she stars in, but I think she especially fits well into her role as a covert operation expert. She’s set up as someone who agrees to the Jurassic mission to earn the riches she’s promised, but as the story goes along, it’s made clear that she’s not someone without values and a heroic quality to her. I was particularly impressed because there are not enough female action characters like her who actually feel like a real person, and aren’t inundated with these random superpower-like skills that make them pretty inaccessible.

And then there’s Jonathan Bailey’s Henry, who proves to be a lot more than just slutty little glasses, with his memorable performance as a paleontologist, who is revealed to have studied under Dr. Alan Grant. Bailey’s character brought the “brains” and curious wonder of dinosaurs to Johansson’s “brawn.” Zora and Henry are well written because they can balance each other out in a digestible way for a two-hour movie, and their chemistry was definitely palpable. I’d be really curious to see them evolve as characters together as they go through more dinosaur-related trials in a sequel.

As a sidenote, I also thought Mahershala Ali was a great presence in the movie – perhaps a little underutilized. I’d love to see him round out the trio, especially if he’s given an expanded role as Duncan Kincaid.

I'm Still Interested In The Idea Of The World Getting Bored Of Dinosaurs

While I was initially not very interested by Rebirth after a mixed reception (including our two-star Jurassic World Rebirth review), when I ended up checking it out myself, one main concept of the film really made me sit up and pay attention. I’m talking about the fact that the movie takes place years after dinosaurs have been reintroduced into the population. Rather than the human race continuing to use dinosaurs as a point of theme park entertainment, they’ve collectively gotten bored of the previously extinct animals, and they’ve been mostly left alone to live in the tropics.

When Zora, Henry and company seek some dinosaurs out it's in order to collect biomaterial within three of the species’ blood that could help cure cardiovascular disease. After much of the Jurassic World franchise focusing on the ways in which humans would react to the ability to bring back dinosaurs, I found it really interesting for the series to talk about the human race’s inherent tendency to get bored and take for granted new developments and technologies at a quick pace. I mean we live in a world where we can fly across the world, and there are self-driving cars, and it feels like we’ve already moved on from thinking about how amazing these inventions are, and as a society continue to be obsessed with what we haven’t figured out. Nothing is ever enough for us.

Rebirth ends with Zora and Henry having the biomaterials in hand, but I think there could be more to the story here. If a bunch of people are treated with dino DNA, there could certainly be some unintended consequences to the patients. And, what about more peril for the dinosaurs – such as mining them extensively for these materials if it does end up curing people.

I Want To See What Happens With Dolores

Lastly, I’m also quite invested in the sweet bond that takes place between Isabella Delgado and a baby dino named Dolores. By the end of the movie, the youngest Delgado family member takes Dolores out of her home to become her pet. Since Dolores is an Aquilops, which are small dinosaurs that are the size of a house cat or rabbit, the family doesn’t have to worry about Dolores getting any bigger, but I am worried about what the dino will do if they try to domesticate her.

We haven’t really seen this idea play out in a Jurassic movie, and I’d like to see more from Isabella and Dolores in a sequel. Not only does it intrigue me from a conceptual point of view, it also feels like a smart way for the series to have a little bit of Spielbergian E.T. vibes to it. We also don’t know if Dolores can survive outside the tropics, and I’m a little worried about that.

So, there are a lot of interesting threads for the sequel to use from here, and after the franchise has been mostly about theme park dinos, I’m really interested for the first time in a while. It’s nice to see Jurassic tackling new ideas rather than retreading too much, and I’m looking forward to what’s next.

Marvel's long-delayed Blade reboot, which was removed from the 2025 movie schedule, continues to be a topic of discussion. Considering the setbacks, the production has kept Mahershala Ali, who's still attached to lead the film, on standby. However, it seems the delays also had an impact on another production -- the upcoming Marvel Zombies animated series. With that, the creative team behind the show recently revealed the alterations that needed to be made.

Ahead of Zombies' debut, Marvel Television head Brad Winderbaum and showrunner Bryan Andrews laid out how the live-action shuffle triggered their pivot for the animated version of Ali's character. The pair provided this clarity to ComicBook.com, explaining that due to delays, they weren't in a position to go with a straightforward variant of the Daywalker. Winderbaum explained:

The fix? Promote the vampire hunter into something new amid the undead apocalypse. He continued:

For those of us who might need a quick primer: in Marvel comics, the Fist of Khonshu is traditionally Moon Knight’s mantle, and is the earthly avatar of the Egyptian moon god, charged with meting out vengeance on their behalf. Depending on the era, that role comes with moon-touched boosts (strength, stamina, faster healing), prophetic nudges and consecrated gear.

Recasting Blade as Khonshu’s fist in Marvel Zombies gives the Daywalker a supernatural upgrade that’s distinct from his usual vampire-hunter toolkit. As a result, the show's creative team was able to craft fresh lore and a cleaner, standalone power set for the apocalypse.

That character change does more than sidestep scheduling chaos. It officially makes Marvel Zombies Blade’s first on-screen Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance— during which he's voiced by Todd Williams instead of Ali. It's ironic that after years of false starts for the movie (and a brief, separate-universe Snipes' cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine), this show ushers Blade into the MCU. Andrews calls it a “surprise privilege,” and chatter about trailer (which you can watch below) suggests fans are already locked in on the Daywalker’s big set piece.

Zoom out and the production logic tracks. Animation works years ahead, while live action can pivot mid-shoot if need be. If the cartoon kept chasing updates, it would never have made the 2025 TV schedule. By creating a Khonshu-blessed Blade (who, according to the trailer, they’re calling Blade Knight, which I love), the team could lock storyboards, action beats, and character rules without tripping over whatever draft the film lands on next. (That is, if the movie ever gets off the ground, of course.) It’s a clean Marvel multiverse move and frankly, a cooler hook for a TV-MA zombie romp.

The status of the live-action Blade reboot remains… complicated. Since the 2019 announcement, the project has cycled creatives and slipped off Marvel’s dated slate entirely, fueling chatter about alternate paths (hello, Midnight Sons?) while Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige insists the movie is still in play. Regardless of where the film lands, the animated side has stopped waiting and turned a delay into a fresh take on a beloved character.

The Moon Knight–christened Daywalker arrives in animation when Marvel Zombies premieres September 24, 2025, so grab a Disney+ subscription if you aim to check it out.

Let’s all agree to keep our fangs checked and behind closed lips throughout the duration of this story, no matter how much we might want to go into a rage. Yet another Blade-related update has surfaced within the MCU, and while it isn’t an additional nail in the coffin of Mahershala Ali’s standalone Blade movie, it is a another big blow to fans desperately waiting for Marvel to actually give the talented actor something to do.

In the aftermath of Marvel rumors pointing to a lack of urgency regarding the daywalker’s long road to reboot, the one strand of hope some fans remained attached to surrounded Ali potentially voicing Blade for the upcoming MCU TV show Marvel Zombies, which will be available to stream in October via Disney+ subscription. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case at all.

According to ComicBook.com, the upcoming R-rated MCU series will feature an iteration of the dhampir, with voice-acting duties delivered by The Chicago Code and Good Behavior vet Todd Williams.

Williams will be providing his talents to play Blade Knight. No not the Kirby character, but a What If...? interpretation that mashes up Eric Brooks with Moon Knight Marc Spector. Williams will, perhaps unsurprisingly, also be the voice of Spector and MK.

Given this update wasn't shared with any direct relation to Mahershala Ali, it's unclear exactly why we're getting yet another on-screen Blade that won't feature the actor cast to play him. (With the other one being Wesley Snipes' reprised character in Deadpool and Wolverine.) Given how many live-action MCU actors do lend their voices to animated projects, there's always a minimal amount of curiosity anytime a hero or villain is recast. The same definitely goes here, considering the only time Ali and Blade actually dovetailed was in the Eternals post-credits scene.

Interestingly enough, and also not connected, Todd Williams provides the voice for the Invincible character Titan in Season 2, having replaced the actor who starred in Season 1. That actor? Mahershala Ali.

The OG Blade screenwriter David Goyer shared his own confusion about Snipes reprising the daywalker for D&W, and shared that he's asked Marvel if they want his help in scripting Blade's official MCU debut, but to no avail. Maybe after this animated version dies, THAT'S when Ali's version can officially rise up. Or, you know, not.

Marvel Zombies is set to debut all four episodes on Disney+ starting on September 24, 2025.

Major spoilers for Jurassic World Rebirth lie ahead, so read on at your own discretion.

Jurassic World Rebirth – the latest installment in the Jurassic Universe – is finally here, and the film introduces audiences to a cast of new characters. As you’d expect, these new protagonists find themselves in some precarious situations involving dinosaurs. There’s actually one situation at the end of the film that seemingly marks the demise of one character. However, in a wild twist of fate, that development gets wrapped up on a positive note. Mahershala Ali has since spoken to CinemaBlend about what he thinks happened.

Near the very end of Rebirth, mercenaries Zora Bennett and Duncan Kincaid along with Dr. Henry Loomis and the Delgado family make one final effort to escape the island of Ile Saint-Hubert. They’re able to find a boat but are intercepted by the monstrous D. Rex, which Duncan lures away with a flare. Duncan’s actions eventually bring him face to face with the massive creature, which looks like it’s about to attack him. However, as Zora and co. prepare to sail away, they see a flare and meet up with Duncan, who swims towards them.

Honestly, I don’t know about anyone else, but I definitely thought Duncan was done for before that reveal. That upbeat ending came up while CinemaBlend’s Hannah Saulic spoke to Mahershala Ali and his cast members, Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey. While Bailey and Johansson joked about how Ali’s character survived his encounter with the D. Rex, the Oscar winner himself tried to provide a more practical theory:

That could’ve been the case, and it does make a lot more sense than Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey’s humorous assertion that the Duncan who swims back to the group is actually a “clone.” Believe it or not, Mahershala Ali himself also thought Duncan died, as he revealed during the interview. Apparently, Ali didn’t discuss the specifics of that with director Gareth Edwards either. I’m not sure if we’ll ever receive a concrete answer there, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t happy to see that Duncan survived.

Duncan Kincaid’s characterization does represent one of the best elements of the original Jurassic Park, which writer David Koepp compared to Rebirth in some respects. As much as the movie delivers on dinosaurs and spectacle, it also puts focus on human connections. Duncan is a man who’s lost a child, and it’s for that reason he’s willing to put himself in harm’s way to protect the group, especially the Delgado kids.

At this point, it’s hard to say if Mahershala Ali will reprise his role in another installment of the Steven Spielberg-produced. However, at the very least, the creative team has the option to do so, given his survival and, given the ending of Rebirth, the future of the Jurassic franchise is wide open.

Jurassic World Rebirth is now playing in theaters amid the 2025 movie schedule, so check your local listings. Also, the previous six films in the series are currently available to stream with a Peacock subscription.

The biggest movie out in theaters right now is a vampire movie called Sinners starring Michael B. Jordan. Apparently, its release is giving Marvel fans FOMO over the Blade movie starring Mahershala Ali that we’re still waiting for. One digital artist just replaced Ali with Jordan on a piece of fan art that people are loving.

Michael B. Jordan Has Been Imagined As Blade In New Sinner-Inspired Fan Art

How would Michael B. Jordan look as Blade? We likely will never find out for real considering the actor has already played one of the best Marvel movie villains, Killmonger, in the Black Panther movies and The Human Torch in the last Fantastic Four movie, but here it is:

OK, I have to say it: this slays. Michael B. Jordan looks awesome with Blade’s sunglasses and leather getup in this reimagining of the Sinners poster. This could absolutely pass off as a Blade poster without question if so many of us weren’t already familiar with and loving Sinners this past weekend.

What’s really funny about the poster by @arifinity_ on Instagram is how they made the tagline of the new poster “Only In Theaters At Some Point…” Considering how long we’ve been waiting for Mahershala Ali to play the vampire slayer, it’s a fair dig.

What’s Going On With Blade Anyway?

It’s not like we’re keeping count or anything, but Mahershala Ali’s Blade movie has been among upcoming Marvel movies on the way since it was announced back in 2019 at San Diego Comic-Con. It’s been almost six years, and there is currently no director attached to the movie and a release date has been taken off the calendar for now.

So far, Mahershala Ali has only made a voiceover cameo during the end-credits scene in Eternals, and tons of behind-the-scenes shakeups have been stressing fans out about whether a movie is ever going to actually come out. Blade was initially going to be helmed by Basam Tariq, but the director left the project in late 2022 before Yann Damange took over a couple of months later. But then Damange also lost out on the movie last summer.

The latest update from Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige came in November 2024 when he said he’s still “committed” to Blade and the half-vampire is indeed set to “make it to the MCU.” There's also been recent rumors that John Wick’s Chad Stahelski could be the next director involved, but we’re at the point where we won’t believe it until Ali is on set in his Blade costume.

While Blade is still in the works, it was certainly nice to see a good vampire more from Black Panther director Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan. And of course, we can always stream the original Blade movies with Wesley Snipes in the meantime.

It’s been clear for months that joining the Jurassic World franchise has long been a priority for Scarlett Johansson. The actress has spoken about basically begging Steven Spielberg for a role, and now that press is really getting underway for the 2025 movie release, she’s appears to be really gung-ho about supporting the flick. At CinemaCon 2025 (which CinemaBlend live blogged), she appeared onstage next to Director Gareth Edwards and co-star Mahershala Ali, and she definitely dressed the part in khakis and heels. (An homage to Bryce Dallas Howard?) But my favorite part was how fun the team seemed to be having, with Gareth Edwards even roasting the actress over how pricy she is to sign.

If you haven’t caught a look at Johansson going full Jurassic World in khakis yet her look was monochromatic and cool. It felt to me like a nod to something one might wear when they go out in the jungle plus a nod to Bryce Dallas Howard’s monochromatic look in the last World trilogy. Part explorer, part posh, but certainly stunning.

We could talk all day about whether or not it’s appropriate to be running in heels while attempting to evade a dinosaur attack –Bryce Dallas Howard has certainly been asked a lot – but I think heels are fair game on the CinemaCon stage regardless of whether they were an intentional nod to the franchise or not. Meanwhile, the team behind Rebirth really did seem to be having the most fun working together.

Scarlett Johansson told the story she’s been touting ahead of release about always wanting to appear in the dinosaur franchise, but then Gareth Edwards took the piss out of her a little bit and it ended up being one of my favorite moments of the night.

Joking she’d “reach out” pretty much whenever another Jurassic Park sequel would come along, Johansson said she guessed for a while a collaboration between herself and some dinos "wasn’t meant to be.” The director interjected, joking the real reason it took so long to get her to join was:

Johansson ignored the director's mini roast, and explained the real truth, which is that this time she went to Steven Spielberg “directly.” (You can do that when you are an A-lister and also a producer in Hollywood I guess.) She told him she’d be fine even getting “eaten in the first five minutes." To which Edwards said: “Spoiler alert.”

He’s obviously joking about the actress dying in the first five minutes, as I’ve seen the Jurassic World: Rebirth trailer and there are several key moments she will absolutely be a part of. Though I will say I would love some more unexpected deaths from big names in this franchise, which might add a bit more unexpectedness to this longtime franchise.

Regardless, I did enjoy how well all three of the main people involved (minus Jonathan Bailey, who is off filming) seem to get along. And again, I cannot wait to see more looks from Scarlett Johansson as the July 2, 2025 movie gets closer to release. With a little luck, this banter will remain consistent too.

Anyone who’s looking forward to Mahershala Ali’s debut as Marvel Studios’ new Daywalker has been living in a multiverse of sadness. I count myself among those folks, as the removal of the Blade reboot from the 2025 movie schedule still stings - considering the project was announced back in 2019, and all we’ve had to show for it is that Eternals post-credits tease.

So while I’m not here to tell you that of any news that definitively changes what we know about Blade’s reboot, because Marvel doesn't ever get definitive about projects that fail to come together, here are some whisperings of good news. Namely a rumor surfaced that ties into one of my underlying hopes during yesterday’s Avengers: Doomsday casting-with-chairs event. Social media scooper MyTimeToShineH (via CBM) has shared a tip that the “indefinite hold” we’ve seen put on director-less feature is thanks to all things Multiverse taking precedent at Marvel Studios.

Oh yes True Believers - Deadpool & Wolverine’s huge cameo from Wesley Snipes has supposedly made waves, and the rumored play is to now make Mahershala Ali’s proper Marvel Cinematic Universe debut into an adventure including Wesley Snipes’ OG Variant.

Flipping back to yesterday's Avengers: Doomsday cavalcade, this already makes a lot of sense. Since Channing Tatum's Gambit was announced as part of the lengthy line up promised to take on Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, allowing Wesley Snipes’ Marvel character record to grow makes sense.

Not to mention having him finally introducing us all to the next generation of vampire hunter, is something that’s worthy of celebration. Pretty much everyone who heard the words “There’s only been one Blade, there's only ever gonna be one Blade.” be it in a movie theater or streaming through a Disney+ subscription, felt that claim to their core.

That’s not a sign that Mahershala Ali’s fresh take is unwanted, but rather a sign that the revamp should keep in mind Blade’s place as one of the handful of non-MCU success stories at the movies. Adapting creator Marv Wolfman’s character has probably never seemed easy, and Blade’s removal from Disney/Marvel’s release slate only highlights the increased difficulty in a post-Iron Man culture where PG-13 juggernauts have called the tune.

Marvel Studios has always intended for Wesley Snipes’ immortal words in that Deadpool & Wolverine storyline to be eaten, as their writing was more aimed at entering another quotable quote into Eric Brooks’ lexicon. As seen in Kevin Feige’s Blade delay comments, the preparation of that meal needs to be just right, with increased importance now included after Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s epic team-up.

Now with the Multiverse story in full effect, and the door to more R-rated comic movies being properly opened, Blade’s time to shine may have finally arrived. It's a development that couldn't have arrived at more opportune moment, as at the time of this story’s publication, the MCU’s Blade has gone through a director departure, as well as six writers and almost as many years in development.

Normally a delay in the face of such an interminable wait would be disastrous. However, if this rumor happens to be true, seeing Wesley Snipes pass Mahershala Ali his spiked sword of suckhead justice will have made it all worth it in the end. And why not…it’s apparently working for the X-Men!

Every year, I try to honor Black History by writing about something important that has occurred in the entertainment industry. And, I can’t think of any greater honor than winning the Academy Award.

Yes, there have been achievements in many different categories, including directing, writing, producing, scoring, etc, but today, my focus is going to be on Black actors.

Split amongst the Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor categories, there have been a total of 23 Oscars doled out to Black performers. So, here are all 23 of them, chronologically ordered.

Hattie McDaniel - Gone With The Wind (1939)

The very first Black winner for an acting Academy Award, Hattie McDaniel won it for Best Supporting Actress with her portrayal of Mammy in Gone With the Wind.

And, even though it's a racial stereotype role, McDaniel's character was often the most sensible and attention-grabbing character on the screen. It's a landmark victory for Black people in cinema.

Sidney Poitier - Lilies Of The Field (1963)

One of Sidney Poitier’s best movies, Lilies of the Field, which is about a handyman who helps a group of nuns build a chapel, was actually Poitier’s second nomination for Best Lead Actor.

His first was for 1958’s The Defiant Ones, which was a movie that he mostly shared with Tony Curtis. Lilies of the Field, however, was a leading role purely for Poitier, and he ended up becoming the first Black Actor to ever win the award. Great stuff!

Louis Gossett Jr. - An Officer And A Gentleman (1982)

In this romantic drama that also stars Richard Gere, Louis Gossett Jr. plays a hard-nosed drill instructor who really challenges his cadets.

Before there was R. Lee Ermey in one of my favorite Kubrick films, Full Metal Jacket, there was Louis Gossett Jr. berating his troops. He was the first Black man to win a Best Supporting Acting trophy, and it was justly awarded. He’s really good in this.

Denzel Washington - Glory (1989)

Denzel Washington’s first Academy Award was a supporting one for his role as a private in the Civil War drama, Glory.

As both a leader to the men in his regiment, but also a soldier who must follow orders, Washington’s character shows the duality of a Black man in uniform. Him deciding to hold up the flag for the charge is one of the most iconic scenes in late ‘80s cinema.

Whoopi Goldberg - Ghost (1990)

An EGOT recipient (though, not the only one on this list), Whoopi Goldberg received a Best Supporting Actress Award for her role as the medium, Oda Mae Brown, in the hit Ghost.

The romance between Swayze and Moore’s character is what defines this film, but it wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable without Goldberg’s humor, and seriousness when the moment calls for it.

Cuba Gooding Jr. - Jerry Maguire (1996)

For this sports comedy-drama, Cuba Gooding Jr. received a Best Supporting Actor award for his role as a cocky but steadfast wide receiver who wants to be shown the money.

Gooding Jr.’s performance is full of energy, and it makes this romantic comedy feel even sweeter when his and Tom Cruise’s characters share more than just a player and client relationship and actually become good friends.

Halle Berry - Monster's Ball (2001)

The only Black woman who has ever won Best Lead Actress, Halle Berry, took home the trophy for her role as a conflicted woman who takes on a relationship with the man who helped execute her husband.

Berry’s character is highly vulnerable, and the events of the movie are stressful beyond belief. Still, her character, as flawed as she is (everybody’s flawed in this film) weathered the storm, and earned Berry a Best Actress statue for her troubles.

Denzel Washington - Training Day (2001)

Washington’s second trophy came as the Best Lead Actor, for playing a cop in Training Day who definitely didn’t follow the rules.

Washington’s character was both charming and terrifying, often in the same scene. Say it with me, people: King Kong ain't got nothing on him!

Morgan Freeman - Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Morgan Freeman actually had a supporting role in two of Clint Eastwood’s best movies, those being Unforgiven, and Million Dollar Baby. And, both films won Best Picture.

However, it was in the latter film where Freeman picked up the Best Supporting Actor statue, for playing a grizzled former boxer and gym assistant. It’s a mostly quiet role, but a memorable one.

Jamie Foxx - Ray (2004)

In one of the best music movies of all time, Jamie Foxx scored a much deserved Best Lead Actor award for his role as the famous blind musician, Ray Charles.

Foxx even had his eyes glued shut for the sake of authenticity. Anything for the craft, right?

Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls (2006)

Another EGOT recipient on this list, Jennifer Hudson, scored a Best Supporting Actress trophy in her VERY FIRST ACTING GIG!

It’s little wonder why though. Hudson’s portrayal of Effie White in Dreamgirls is powerful. Going from lead singer to starting all over again, Hudson did a “Supreme” job (Do you see what I did there?) in her very first role.

Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Forest Whitaker’s best performance is by far his role as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.

In a role that netted him a Best Lead Actor award, Whitaker is utterly terrifying, but also somewhat funny, in the way that only Whitaker can be.

Mo'Nique - Precious (2009)

After watching Mo’Nique as the abusive mother in Precious, it’s hard to watch her again in one of the best Black TV shows, The Parkers. It just seems like such a smoke screen.

Anyway, Mo’Nique was awarded a Best Supporting Actress trophy for this performance, and I haven’t looked at her the same way since.

Octavia Spencer - The Help (2011)

Though The Help hasn’t aged well, Octavia Spencer’s role as a maid who was fired for using a guest bathroom is still one of her best performances.

Spencer won Best Supporting Actress for a role where she got to take a dump in somebody’s pie. It’s a feel good film.

Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years a Slave (2013)

In her career-defining role in 12 Years a Slave, Lupita Nyong'o plays a violently abused slave.

It is one of the most brutal (and likely most realistic) portrayals of slavery ever put to screen, and Nyong'o won a Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance.

Viola Davis - Fences (2016)

In this adaptation of a play in August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, Viola Davis plays a wronged but loyal wife.

The third EGOT recipient on this list, Davis should have several Oscars, but this is her sole win, and it’s in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Mahershala Ali - Moonlight (2016)

Though only in Moonlight for one act, Mahershala Ali’s performance as a caring drug dealer was so powerful that he won the Best Supporting Actor trophy.

It would be his first of two Academy Awards so far.

Regina King - If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

In If Beale Street Could Talk, Regina King plays the mother of a young woman whose boyfriend has been convicted of rape, and she tries to convince the victim that it wasn’t him.

King won a Best Supporting Actress Award for her quiet, but searing performance.

Mahershala Ali - Green Book (2018)

In Ali’s second Best Supporting Actor win, the skilled performer played real-life pianist Don Shirley in this Best Picture winner.

Ali’s character in this film is completely different from that in Moonlight, but that sense of vulnerability still persists, which was worthy of the award.

Daniel Kaluuya - Judas And The Black Messiah (2020)

Playing the “Black Messiah,” Daniel Kaluuya portrayed the inspirational Fred Hampton in this riveting biopic.

He won Best Supporting Actor, beating out the “Judas” (Bill O’Neal) in this picture, played excellently by LaKeith Stanfield, who was also nominated.

Ariana DeBose - West Side Story (2021)

In this second adaptation of the famed musical West Side Story, Ariana DeBose won Best Supporting Actress playing Anita, who was portrayed by Rita Moreno in the first theatrical adaptation.

DeBose is absolutely magnetic in the role, firmly earning her win.

Will Smith - King Richard (2021)

Though the unfortunate slap is likely what many people remember most about this ceremony and Will Smith's award, his Best Lead Actor-winning turn really does deserve a second look.

Playing the tenacious father to Venus and Serena Williams, Smith definitely deserved the award for his work in the lauded film.

Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers (2023)

And finally, the most recent winner, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of a quietly grieving mother in The Holdovers.

This film speaks to me as a teacher, yes, but also as a parent. I can thankfully only imagine the pain that her character Is going through.

That’s all of them! We’ll see if Zoe Saldaña, Colman Domingo, or Cynthia Erivo pick up a trophy at the 2025 Academy Awards.

Of all the upcoming Marvel movies, there’s one that’s arguably been gestating longer than the others. The Blade reboot – starring Mahershala Ali – was announced in July 2019 and, since then, the project has been hit with various delays for one reason or another. A number of fans have been eager for updates on the Daywalker’s next solo film, and producer Kevin Feige just provided an update. Some people who read the exec’s sentiments may be left wanting more, though I honestly appreciate the comments he shared.

What Did Kevin Feige Have To Say About The Blade Movie?

The head of the Disney-owned Marvel Studios was present at the company’s D23 Brazil expo this weekend, during which he showed off some of his company’s upcoming productions. Amid the festivities, he also took some time to speak with Brazilian outlet Omelete, with which he shared details on his company’s release schedule for TV shows and movies, Miles Morales and more. When the seemingly troubled vampiric superhero movie was mentioned, the filmmaker was diplomatic, conveying his dedication to the film and its star:

This Marvel Cinematic Universe film’s road to the big screen has definitely been long. After it was announced in 2019, Bassam Tariq was hired as director around September 2021. The reboot would later receive a new director in the form of Yann Demange, who was hired in November 2022 after Tariq exited the project due to scheduling issues. But, in June 2024, Demange left, marking another setback for the film. All the while, various writers – from Watchmen’s Stacy Osei-Kuffour to Black Widow’s Eric Pearson – have been brought in.

Despite all of that, Kevin Feige seems to be staying upbeat in regard to the movie’s development. Yes, someone could definitely argue that he’s merely being a good executive trying to keep fans’ hopes alive, and that’s certainly valid. However, I’m not disappointed in what he said.

Why Do I Appreciate This Latest Blade Update?

Anyone who’s followed Marvel Studios over the years knows that the company does indeed make an effort to keep fans up to date on what they’re cooking up. They definitely did that in a big way this past summer when announcing that the fifth Avengers film had been retitled Doomsday and that Robert Downey Jr. would return to the MCU in the role of Doctor Doom. While updates may not come as quickly as we desire them, I truly believe Marvel would and will inform the public if there's a major change with Blade, which is currently not on Disney’s company-wide release schedule.

On top of that, Kevin Feige has more than proven himself to be a fan, so I believe he’s devoted to making this movie happen. I may come off as a naive optimist in this case, which is fair, but I’m willing to give Feige, Mahershala Ali and co. the benefit of the doubt. I mean, given that they’ve stuck with the production this long, they must see the potential of it. And, let’s be honest, if they succeed, the House of Mouse could have a top-tier horror-action franchise on its hands.

While you wait for news on the movie, stream the original Blade movies, which star Wesley Snipes. You can also see Snipes reprise his role as the character in Deadpool & Wolverine, which will be available to stream with a Disney+ subscription starting on November 12.

It’s kind of crazy how the rundown of upcoming 2025 movies has changed for the MCU. As Blade has been delayed yet again, the long in development reboot starring Mahershala Ali feels like it’s never going to happen at this point. At least, that’s how some may have taken the news before a new, and very promising Marvel rumor surfaced in the wake of that news. Apparently, there may be a very good explanation for why the Daywalker’s return has been postponed, and it could be huge for fans of horror in the MCU.

Another Marvel Project May Be Behind Blade’s Removal From The 2025 Schedule

Per rumblings coming from internet scooper Daniel Richtman (via ComicBookMovie), Blade may have been shelved for the moment to make way for another project that’s been whispered about with recent intensity. That potential film is, of course, the team-up adventure Midnight Sons, which is apparently being “fast-tracked” and already hunting for a director to head up the project.

What makes this rumor even more interesting is that there have been some other clues to why this sort of scheduling switcheroo may have happened in the first place. During the Deadpool & Wolverine press tour, own Sean O’Connell was on hand to grab Kevin Feige’s recent update on Blade , which stated that “Sometimes you need that magic thing that falls into place.” It wouldn’t be a total surprise for Midnight Sons to be that speculated “magic thing,” as this isn’t the first we’ve heard of the production.

Another Daniel Richtman scoop (via ComicBook.com) alleged that Fantastic Four: First Steps composer Michael Giacchino was in the running for helming duties. That would make absolute sense considering his success with the Marvel horror special Werewolf by Night, as well as his prior experience with the MCU machinery as a frequent musical contributor. Speaking of which, the existence of that project brings up another huge point as to why Midnight Sons could be just the thing to set up Blade for future success.

Why Midnight Sons Could Be Huge For Fans Of MCU Horror

The Midnight Sons crew has been known to be composed of Marvel horror icons like Moon Knight, Doctor Strange, and Blade, all serving as a supernatural flavored fighting force. In other words, it’s basically the MCU’s Justice League Dark, with a collection of darker themed superheroes who are just waiting to get into mischief you might not find in a PG-13 movie.

Seeing as Blade already has an R-rating, and Deadpool & Wolverine turned that former no-go into a record breaking path for the future, a more mature skewing storyline could take center stage. Serving audience members who’ve been more into Terrifier than Ant-Man in recent years, the bloodletting and F-bombs could fly freely, and potentially even make for a Halloween tradition the MCU can earmark on its annual calendar.

What’s more, some of the projects that seem like loose threads in Marvel Studios’ past can finally pay off. This is where Michael Giacchino’s directing experience would once again come in handy, as this picture could become the potential Werewolf by Night follow-up we’ve all been dreaming of. Also, Oscar Isaac’s wishes to return to Moon Knight make for another promising building block for a frightful future in Marvel’s cinematic canon.

Though the Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for mixing it up with its team rosters, the Midnight Sons already has some promising figures established to form its foundation. And as the report cited above noted, Mahershala Ali could make an effective entrance with his Blade that’d be similar to that of Chadwick Boseman’s Marvel debut in Captain America: Civil War.

It a hypothesis that'd most likely help in jump starting Eric Cross Brooks' big screen resurgence. A fresh perspective via a starter adventure could cut through the slog of numerous script revisions that have taken place, as well as revive interest in other Marvel Studios properties that haven't seen much love as of late.

At the moment, this is of course all rumored, with no confirmations except for the fact that Blade is no longer on the 2025 release schedule. To keep up with what future four-paneled fun is heading down the line, check out the upcoming Marvel movies guide we have on hand! And as always, if you want to revisit the MCU’s finest entries, with or without a side of scares, a Disney+ subscription will grant you access to most of the titles in that ever-extending lineup.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always growing, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. And there are a number of upcoming Marvel movies which fans have been waiting on information about, leading to rumors online. One of those projects is Mahershala Ali's Blade movie, and after rumors swirled, The Harder They Fall’s director weighed in on the speculation.

What we know about Blade is limited, especially since the developing blockbuster has been delayed so many times. Fans are curious if its still going to happen, or the studio will scrap its plans altogether. Filmmaker Jeymes Samuel aka The Bullitts herd chatter about him directing the project, and took to Twitter to set the record stright. As he put it:

There you have it. It sounds like you can count Samuel out as director of the new Blade movie. Exactly who is behind the camera is a mystery, but the studio will have to move forward quickly with development if the movie is going to arrive in theaters in November of 2025 as currently planned. We'll just have to wait for information.

While Kevin Feige is still optimistic about Blade, fans have been a bit worried about the project for some time. The movie has lost multiple directors, which definitely gave fans reason to pause. And while Eternals' credits scene briefly featured Mahershala Ali's voice as Blade, there's no plans for that story to continue with a sequel. So exactly how/when the vampiric hero will get his big debut is a mystery at the time being.

One big question mark is how invested audiences are going to be with a new Blade. Fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order remember Wesley Snipes' trilogy of movies, and the actor recently reprised his role in epic fashion during Deadpool & Wolverine. I have to wonder if having Snipes back in the role will hurt or help the new Blade movie, which will feature Mahershala Ali taking on the mantle.

While Jeymes Samuel shut down rumors about directing Blade for the MCU, it's still unclear exactly who will be behind the camera for the film. But Kevin Feige and company will presumably have to ink a deal with a filmmaker soon.

Blade is currently expected to arrive in theaters on November 7th, 2025. For now, check out the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

The 2010s were a transformative decade for movies as directors like Damien Chazelle, Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele hit the mainstream, and many actors exploded into stardom or gave career-defining performances in movies like theirs. Now, it’s time to celebrate some of the best films of this decade and the performers who starred in them. 

Emma Stone – La La Land 

This ode to Old Hollywood and modern romance from Damien Chazelle is widely beloved in part because of Emma Stone's performance. If you go back to reviews for La La Land, you’ll see Stone and Ryan Gosling praised for their work as they played Mia and Sebastian, two aspiring artists who fall in love with each other. Notably, Emma Stone won her first Oscar for the film because of the wonderful performance she gave as the up-and-coming actress. 

Kristen Wiig – Bridesmaids

When it comes to Bridesmaids and all its hilarious lines and gags, we all need to say a collective thank you to Kristen Wiig. Not only did the Saturday Night Live alum lead the stellar ensemble cast of this 2011 flick, but she also wrote the movie with Annie Mumolo, and they got an Oscar nomination for it. 

Mahershala Ali – Moonlight

Moonlight, which famously won Best Picture in 2017, is a coming-of-age film that follows Chiron through three stages of his life, focusing on him exploring his sexuality and identity. In it, Mahershala Ali plays Juan, a man who has a pivotal role in Chiron’s early life. Famously, Ali won his first Oscar for his moving performance in this film. 

Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out

Get Out is considered one of the greatest horror movies of all time, and it marked the directorial debut of Jordan Peele. While this film about the deeply dark turn a trip takes after a white woman brings her Black boyfriend home to meet her family is career-defining for its director – as he’s gone on to become quite the name in the genre – it also marked a major breakout for Daniel Kaluuya who played the film’s lead, Chris. 

Amy Adams – Arrival 

Arrival is unquestionably one of Amy Adams’ best movies, and to this day, folks are still livid that she wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for it. She plays Louise, a linguist assigned to decipher and translate an alien language. However, as Arrival’s ending makes abundantly clear, there’s way more to it than that, and one of the major reasons this movie works is because of Adams’ masterful, emotional and nuanced performance. 

J.K. Simmons – Whiplash

In Whiplash, one of J.K. Simmons’ best films, he plays a brilliant and brutal jazz conductor and instructor named Terence Fletcher. During the film, Miles Teller plays a young drummer named Andrew who is determined to become great, and his intense relationship with Terence and the notion of being the best is what makes Damien Chazelle’s film magnificent. On top of its overall acclaim, Simmons also won an Oscar for his performance.

Hugh Jackman – Logan 

Logan was Hugh Jackman’s last ride as the Wolverine, and it was basically perfect. While he’s returned to the role since in Deadpool and Wolverine, Logan still serves as a wonderful conclusion to the iconic X-Man’s story. It was also a game-changing Marvel film, as it brought a level of grit and intrigue that we hadn’t really seen in a movie from this universe before. 

Ben Affleck – Argo 

Much like Good Will Hunting, Argo marked a major milestone in Ben Affleck’s career. It was one of the films that solidified him as a top-tier director, and on top of that, he also starred in the film about a CIA agent disguised as a producer who goes into Tehran on a mission to save a group of Americans. Oh, also, the film went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars too. 

Jesse Eisenberg — The Social Network

The Social Network cast is stacked, however, it wouldn’t be what it is without Jesse Eisenberg’s performance as Mark Zuckerberg at its center. His nuanced performance which is somehow both collected and chaotic compliments Aaron Sorkin’s fast-talking script perfectly, and he expertly helped build up tension in the film that director David Fincher is known for. All around, that made for a perfect, heart-pounding drama about the rise of Facebook.

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf Of Wall Street  

While Leonardo DiCaprio has a long list of career-defining performances, and he and Martin Scorsese have made many great movies together, you can’t deny that his portrayal of Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street tops that list. 

Brie Larson – Room

The film Room, which is about a mother and her son escaping captivity, is masterfully led by Brie Larson, who plays Ma. Both she and Jacob Tremblay, who played her son Jack, were praised for their performances, and in 2016, the actress won an Oscar for her work. 

Daniel Craig – Knives Out

Now, I know that Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond was still happening in the 2010s. However, an equally important and brilliant role he took on was as detective Benoit Blanc in Rian Johnson’s first whodunnit Knives Out. Now, after leading the cast of Knives Out, Craig has gone on to reprise his role as the Southern detective on multiple occasions, because he loves it and so do we. 

Ryan Gosling – Drive

If you look over Ryan Gosling’s best movies, on one side you’ll find his brilliant comedic films – like Barbie and The Nice Guys – and on the other side, you’ll find his stoic and dramatic performance, like the one he gives in Drive. Put simply, Drive wouldn’t work without the actor’s lead performance, because the entire film hinges on him and his abilities. 

Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool

After years of working to get it made and some well-timed leaked footage, finally, in 2016, Deadpool came out and we got to see Ryan Reynolds in his element as the Merc with a Mouth. 

Casey Affleck – Manchester By The Sea 

In a film about a man returning home to reckon with his past and grief after losing his brother, Casey Affleck gives an emotional and commanding performance. Not only did he win an Oscar for his work in this drama, but it’s also one of the big defining roles of his career. 

Chris Evans – Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

Chris Evans began and ended his tenure as Steve Rogers in the 2010s. While all his outings as the star-spangled man with a plan were excellent, nothing tops his performance as Cap in the political thriller that is the Russo brothers’ Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which is easily one of the best Marvel movies ever made. 

Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel 

Under Wes Anderson’s precise direction, Ralph Fiennes occupied the pastel world of the Grand Budapest Hotel with grace and style. His fast-talking M. Gustave went on quite the adventure in this film, and he won over the hearts of audiences with his quick wit, smooth charm and impeccable work ethic. 

Natalie Portman – Black Swan 

Throwing it back to the beginning of the decade, Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan showed us Natalie Portman’s talents in a new light. While she had been on the scene and in big movies for years, this film marked a major milestone in her career as her performance as a tortured ballerina got her an Academy Award. 

Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buys Club

Obviously, for a couple of decades before this, Matthew McConaughey was known and beloved for fun movies like Dazed and Confused and How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days. However, in 2013, Dallas Buyers Club marked a notable shift in his career. Not only did he win an Oscar for this dramatic turn as a man who finds out he has AIDS, but he also went on to star in acclaimed projects like Interstellar and True Detective one year later, cementing himself as a magnificent dramatic actor with serious range. 

Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

Yes, Jennifer Lawrence leading The Hunger Games cast is one of the biggest triumphs of her career. However, amid all of that, she starred in the beloved dramedy Silver Linings Playbook with Bradley Cooper, and that’s the film for which she won her Oscar. This magnificent film about two people learning to live and thrive through grief and mental illness, is a thoughtful and funny film that Lawrence steals with her amazing performance. 

Brad Pitt – Moneyball 

Moneyball is the story about the general manager of the Oakland A’s using his business savvy and what little money his team had to assemble a rag-tag team of MLB players. Brad Pitt plays said manager, Billy Beane, and I mean it when I say the movie really wouldn’t work without him. He’s at the center of it, and he carries it to victory just like his character did with the A’s.  

Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther 

We sadly lost Chadwick Boseman way too early, however, his legacy will live on forever. This is in part because of his performance as the King of Wakanda, T’Challa. Black Panther was a historic moment in modern movie history, and his incredible take on the titular hero is a big reason why. 

Margot Robbie – I, Tonya 

Before I, Tonya, Margot Robbie was beloved for her supporting and ensemble roles in films like The Wolf of Wall Street and Suicide Squad. However, one of the movies that helped solidify her as both a leading lady and super producer was I, Tonya. She played Tonya Harding and produced the film under the banner of her company LuckyChap – which went on to make films like Barbie and Promising Young Woman. 

Florence Pugh – Midsommar

Florence Pugh exploded onto the scene with the haunting Ari Aster film Midsommar. The movie is now considered one of the best horror movies of all time, and a big reason why is Pugh’s performance. 

Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird

Talk about a dynamic duo. Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan are a match made in heaven, and that was solidified into fact when the actress played the titular Lady Bird in the director’s breakout film. Not only did fans fall in love with Ronan’s performance as the defiant teenage gal, but she also received wide acclaim and an Oscar nomination for it. Plus, it was the beginning of a glorious partnership between her and Greta Gerwig as they then went on to make Little Women together. 

Timothée Chalamet – Call Me By Your Name

These days, when people think of Timothée Chalamet, they likely think of him as Paul Atreides, the leader of the Dune cast. However, before that (and in a different decade) the film that sprung him into the mainstream was Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name. The deeply romantic and tender coming-of-age drama was led beautifully by Chalamet, and since then he’s taken on more roles that have helped cement him as one of the top-leading men of his generation. 

Anna Kendrick – Pitch Perfect

If you were a kid in 2012 (like I was), odds are you learned the “Cups” song. The movie about college acapella was a phenomenon in the early 2010s, and it served as a big breakout leading role for Anna Kendrick. Not only was she funny as Becca, but everyone also became aware that she had the singing voice of an angel.  

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years A Slave

Lupita Nyong’o’s first feature film was 12 Years A Slave. Her performance in the movie by Steve McQueen won her an Oscar in 2012 and solidified her as a top-tier dramatic performer. Since then, she’s gone on to star in massive blockbusters like Black Panther and A Quiet Place: Day One. 

Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

There have been many amazing takes on the Joker, and Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck was a totally new one. In Joker, we see the villain’s origin story, and it’s a film that’s unlike any other DC project. The haunting performance ultimately won the actor an Oscar, and he reprised the part again in Joker: Folie à Deux.

Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road

The movie is named after Mad Max, and he’s great, don’t get me wrong, but Furiosa steals the show. Charlize Theron’s performance as the driver in Mad Max: Fury Road is fierce and jaw-dropping, and she’s one of many reasons why George Miller’s movie is considered one of the best action films. 

Michael Cera – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

You can’t have Scott Pilgrim vs. The World without a perfect Scott Pilgrim and that’s who Michael Cera is. He perfectly played the awkward yet heroic protagonist in Edgar Wright’s beloved film, and to this day, it's considered some of his best work.

Matt Damon – The Martian

This Ridley Scott movie is literally about one man who is stuck on Mars. Yes, there are other people in the film trying to save him. However, overall, The Martian is Matt Damon’s movie. He plays the stranded astronaut and scientist, and the heart, charisma, intelligence and even humor he brings to the space drama is unforgettable. 

All around, the 2010s were full of films that are on their way to becoming all-time classics, and it’s in part thanks to the brilliant actors who starred in them. 

In 2019, Kevin Feige announced to the world at San Diego Comic-Con that Mahershala Ali would play Blade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and then the actor joined the Marvel Studios president on the Hall H stage. Five years later, we know that Blade remains on upcoming Marvel movies schedule, but its numerous behind-the-scenes issues have kept it languishing in development hell, the latest setback being the departure of director Yann Demange. The wait continues for a new director to come aboard and for production to finally begin, but in the meantime, some scrapped story details for the Marvel reboot have been revealed that I wish hasn’t been tossed aside.

In a report details the reasoning behind Demange’s exit and how Ali has “exercised an inordinate amount of influence” over the project when it comes to picking directors and writers, THR mentions that when Blade was expected to begin filming in summer 2023, the story was set in the 1920s and starred Pearl’s Mia Goth as Lilith, a vampire villain introduced to the comics in 1974’s Giant-Size Chillers Featuring The Curse of Dracula #1 who was trying to get the blood of Blade’s daughter in this feature. Another “iteration” of Blade, specifically from when Bassam Tariq was attached to direct, Marvel built a “massive train set,” but it was never used, though the publication mentioned a different Disney project could incorporate it.

Although I’m not a fan of scary stories and don’t keep an eye on the upcoming horror movies, since I’m an MCU fan, I have to be invested in Blade to some degree or another. But when you tell me we could have seen Mahershala Ali’s Blade, a.k.a. Eric Brooks, slicing down vampires in the 1920s, my interest kicks up a notch. The MCU has played around with period pieces before, like Captain America: The First Avenger taking place during World War II and Captain Marvel being set in 1995, so having Blade take place just a few years after World War I concluded and as the Jazz Age raged on would certainly have been a good way to make it stand out both in this franchise and among the other Blade movies.

As for the train set, even with no context for how it would be used, that would have been another great hook for Blade. Captain America: The First Avenger, Ant-Man and Black Panther are among the Marvel movies in order that have used trails as part of major action sequences (although in the middle movie’s case, it was literally a Thomas the Tank engine toy), so it would have been interesting to see what Blade cooked up on this front. Bonus points if the train set had remained in the 1920s story.

Alas, both these story elements have now been scrapped, with THR saying that Blade is now said to be set in the present day. Eric Pearson, who wrote Thor: Ragnarok, Black Widow, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four, is now penning the Blade script, and Mahershala Ali and Mia Goth are the only actors still attached, with Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre being let go. Earlier this week, Wesley Snipes poked fun at the reboot experiencing so much trouble by putting a twist on one of his iconic Blade lines.

Blade is still officially slotted for a November 7, 2025 release, but it’s a good bet that another delay for this reboot is coming up. Keep yourself entertained while waiting for more Blade updates by streaming MCU content with your Disney+ subscription.

It’s been nearly five full years since Mahershala Ali was announced to be playing Blade at San Diego Comic-Con, and yet we’re still waiting for him to make his onscreen Marvel Cinematic Universe debut following his voice cameo in Eternals. Although Blade is still rests in the Phase Six slate of upcoming Marvel movies, the project has suffered numerous setbacks over the years. Now yet another one has been revealed, and it’s getting to the point where I’m worried we’ll never see Ali’s version of Eric Brooks kill vampires.

The latest update on Blade’s progress comes from The Wrap, which reports that director Yann Demange has departed the reboot. The outlet states that his exit happened “a while ago” and that it was “entirely amicable.” An unnamed insider also said that “getting Blade right is much more important than getting the film out.” Demange, who boarded Blade in November 2022, is the second director to leave the project, with Bassam Tariq having previously bailed in September of that same year.

On the one hand, it’s good that that Blade isn’t being rushed out, with Marvel Studios giving writer Eric Pearson enough time to make his screenplay the best product possible. On the other hand, it’s somewhat baffling to me that there have been so many obstacles to getting this reboot off the ground. After all, Blade already showed off his cinematic chops when Wesley Snipes portrayed the character from 1998 to 2004. Why is it so difficult to get an MCU-set Blade off the ground?

To be clear, I’m not writing off Blade completely, but I can’t help wondering if this project might be scrapped one day. It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened, as Inhumans was originally supposed to be a movie following what we now know as Avengers: Endgame, but then it was reconfigured into the critically-panned ABC series that only lasted one season. Unlike Inhumans though, Blade has at least already been partially set up thanks to the aforementioned presence in Eternals. Still, maybe there’s a scenario where Marvel Studios abandons its plans to highlight the vampire hunter on the big screen.

It’s also worth mentioning that last month, Mahershala Ali was reportedly being lined up to star in Jurassic World 4, which is supposed to begin filming in London any day now. So assuming a deal was reached between Ali and Universal Pictures, that already prevents Blade from being a summer shoot, as was previously the plan. Depending on how fast a director is found to replace Yann Deamange, maybe there’s a chance Blade could roll cameras in the fall instead and still be ready in time for its November 7, 2025 release date. But again, Marvel doesn’t want to rush the creative process, so a delay to 2026 seems more likely.

We’ll let you know who takes over Blade directorial duties once that information is announced/reported. Meanwhile, the majority of the Marvel movies in order and MCU TV shows can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription, but unfortunately none of Wesley Snipes’ Blade movies are currently on a streaming platform.

Although 2021’s Jurassic World: Dominion wrapped up the trilogy that began in 2015 and introduced the world to Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady and Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire Dearing, the Jurassic Park universe isn’t done by a long shot. Jurassic World 4, which is due out next year, was announced to the public back in January, and since then we’ve learned Scarlett Johansson will play the lead and be joined by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Jonathan Bailey and Rupert Friend. Now word’s come in that Mahershala Ali is being lined up for Jurassic World 4, and while this is great news for the Universal Pictures franchise, I’m becoming more worried about the Blade reboot, one of the upcoming Marvel movies, in the process.

Mahershala Ali Might Be Joining Jurassic World 4

Let’s go over the positive first. THR has heard that Ali is in talks to come aboard Jurassic World 4, meaning it’s not a done deal yet, but the chances of it happening are likely. Production is set to begin in mid-June in London, so Ali’s involvement needs to be cemented soon in order to not to complicate the shooting schedule. If a deal is worked out, along with appearing on camera alongside the aforementioned actors, he’ll also be directed by Gareth Edwards, who “dropped everything” to work on Jurassic World 4. Jurassic Park and The Lost World: Jurassic Park writer David Koepp is penning the script.

If things work out with Mahershala Ali, this will add yet another major franchise to his filmography, as he’s previously lent his talents to Predators, both parts of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay and the animated Spider-Verse movies. Additionally, back in 2019, he was cast to play Blade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and while he did make a vocal cameo in Eternals’ end-credits scene, this version of vampire hunter still has yet to actually be seen.

Why This Could Be Bad News For The Blade Reboot

Among the things we know about the Blade reboot is that it’s scheduled for release on November 7, 2025, sandwiched between The Fantastic Four and Avengers 5. However, this is the third release date it’s been given, as Blade has face numerous behind-the-scenes shakeups in the years since Mahershala Ali was announced to be playing the title character. Now with this Jurassic World 4 news, I can’t help but think another delay is forthcoming.

Jurassic World 4 is set to come out on July 2, 2025, just four months before Blade. While it wouldn’t be impossible for Ali to go straight to shooting Blade after finishing the next Jurassic World movie, the chances of that happening seem slim. The Hot Mic previously reported that Blade will shoot in Mexico this summer, but I find it hard to believe that’s still happening following this Jurassic World 4 update. I’m not willing to start speculating just yet about Blade being outright shelved, but there’s more than enough cause for concern.

Assuming Mahershala Ali is looking to prioritize Jurassic World 4 next, then clearly Blade still isn’t ready to get off the ground just yet. As such, I’m thinking that it will need to be moved to 2026, either before or after Avengers 5. That would mean its arrival comes seven years after we learned Ali would play Blade, which is one hell of a waiting period.

If Blade’s production and release date to indeed get pushed back, we’ll pass along the news. Meanwhile, check out our 2024 release schedule to learn what movies are still on track to come out later this year.

One of the reasons many of us love following celebrities so much is because they go places and have experiences that many of us simply never will. That includes going to awards shows and getting all gussied up in some of the fanciest, most expensive clothes and accessories around. With the bulk of this year’s award season now over, let’s take a look at 32 great pairs of shoes that stars sported recently as they walked the red carpet.

Annette Bening 

Looks for any award show can vary wildly, but we do typically see ladies in high heels of some sort. Actress Annette Benning did step out in heels, but she chose some of a chunky platform sandal variety that likely added some literal stability to her chic, flowy outfit.

Ryan Gosling

Sure, men’s fashion doesn’t usually lend itself to wild shoewear choices on the red carpet, but that’s OK. Barbie cast member/Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling went with a great pair of shiny black shoes to accent his black (and slightly sparkly) tux and red socks, and they work perfectly.

Danielle Brooks

You’re going to see that black, overall, was a popular shoe color choice for 2024’s award shows, and The Color Purple Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks made a good pick to go with her very glamorous Dolce Gabbana gown. The sandals feature a shapely high heel and pearl accents that kick the look up a couple of notches.

Cynthia Erivo

Not only did Cynthia Erivo and her co-star Ariana Grande decide to represent their Wicked characters via their fashion choices for the Academy Awards, but Erivo took her green Elphaba theme to the hilt with her platform shoes with striated shades of emerald.

Billie Eilish

One cannot deny the importance of comfort when talking shoes, and award winning singer/songwriter Billie Eilish definitely deserves props for choosing a round-toe mary jane style that even allowed her to wear full-on shocks to the Oscars.

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh has had no shortage of amazing fashion moments, and it appears that they won’t let up anytime soon. The star looked wonderful at the Oscars, and walked tall in a super chunky, mirrored platform sandal to complete her look.

Colman Domingo

As the star of the lauded civil rights drama, Rustin, Colman Domingo made numerous appearances on red carpets recently, but his decision to head to the Academy Awards in custom Louis Vuitton cowboy boots (in black with gold accents) has absolutely put him near the top of everyone’s fashionable celeb list.

Emily Blunt

Never mind the Oscar dress with the floating shoulders, most would likely say that Emily Blunt’s silver heels with a little half-bow across her toes managed to actually steal the show from her gorgeously constructed cream and silver gown.

Mahershala Ali

Again, men don’t always think to step up their shoe game for red carpets, but Mahershala Ali certainly did. His graphic black and white loafers with a slight heel absolutely helped him stand out in a sea of men with black footwear.

Ava DuVernay

Director Ava DuVernay looked lovely in her powder blue ensemble, and her silver shoes with a little bit of a platform went nicely with the buckled straps of her off-the-shoulder dress.

Carly Pearce

People came out in their finest for the CMT Awards, and country singer Carly Pearce was no different. The black and silver gem-studded stunners she wore on her feet obviously made a fabulous statement. Look at that crazy high stiletto heel!

Celine Song

Just because you’re in black flats, it doesn’t have to mean that your choice of shoe has to be boring. Wearing a flowy, lower-calf length skirt to walk the Oscar red carpet, filmmaker Celine Song was able to show off her chunky footwear and look like the very picture of effortless cool.

Wendy Thembelihle Juel

The South African/Danish model may have put on a fitted, shimmering pink dress for her time at the Academy Awards, but she also chose black as the perfect color for her shoes. Her sandals gave the gown an extra oomph with a pretty crystal (or diamond) bow across each set of toes that helped to make them the real focal point of her glamorous look.

Erika Alexander

To celebrate the Oscar nods received by American Fiction, star Erika Alexander stepped out in a truly original dress. And, her shoes were different as well, seeing as how it’s relatively rare to see ladies on the red carpet in white heels.

Alex Borstein

Black can be very basic, but not, apparently, if you’re The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Alex Borstein. The talent stepped out to the Critics Choice Awards in delicately laced black pumps that appear to be see-through, which also had a scalloped edge to compliment her sheer dress.

Ke Huy Quan

Ke Huy Quan is clearly enjoying his revitalized time in the spotlight, and the Oscar winner knows how to get all dressed up for the red carpet. Here, he wears a classic pair of glossy black, tie-up dress shoes, and they pair perfectly with his deep red and black tuxedo.

Simu Liu

The People’s Choice Awards saw Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Barbie star Simu Liu hit the carpet in a fantastic oxblood-colored suit. And, not only did his shoes match, but he switched things up from typical men’s shoes and donned suede footwear for the occasion. Love it!

Andrew Scott

It can be so, so nice to buck convention and head to a fancy event in an ensemble that evokes a high/low effect, which is exactly what All of Us Strangers and Ripley star Andrew Scott did when he attended the Golden Globe Awards in January 2024. Instead of going for a full, all-white tuxedo, he went with the jacket, wide-leg pants and a thin t-shirt, which were beautifully accompanied by full-coverage shoes in the same creamy shade with an ultra-low black heel.

Oprah Winfrey

If you paid any attention to the many events that media mogul extraordinaire Oprah Winfrey went to in order to celebrate and promote the release of the musical The Color Purple, well, you’ll know that the many shades of that very hue were her choice for all of them. This included her time at the Golden Globes, where she capped her lovely, custom Louis Vuitton dress (which appears to be a shimmery, optical illusion-like crushed velvet) with grape-colored Manolo Blahnik shoes. So sophisticated, right?

Rachel Brosnahan

Talk about working a look! The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star (who’s soon to be our new Lois Lane in Superman: Legacy) went all red for the Golden Globes and was a total stunner. She stepped out in a custom Sergio Hudson off-the-shoulder gown, which featured a slinky line of buttons from top to toe that opened about halfway down. Brosnahan is also in satiny, custom-made Christian Louboutin sandals with a thin ankle strap that perfectly sets off her whole outfit.

Selena Gomez

Only Murders in the Building superstar Selena Gomez has been on top since her teens, so she knows how to work a red carpet! Her Globes look featured one of the more intriguing gowns of the night; a glossy, deep red stunner with black accents and a full, hi-low hem that gave everyone a perfect look at her cool shoes in a lipstick shade of red that appeared to feature some holographic effects. Selena can do no wrong!

Helen Mirren

Dame Helen Mirren (who really should be given her own Fast & Furious movie) hasn’t portrayed a queen more than once for nothing. She went to the Globes in a lavender ensemble that featured a bodice that gathered at her side and a sweeping skirt, topped with a two-tone cape (Yes, honey!) and extremely chunky, platform sandals in a shade of silver that perfectly matched her hair. Does glam get any better?

Jessica Williams

Speaking of royalty, Shrinking and Road House star Jessica Williams looked like an absolute princess as a nominee when she attended the Primetime Emmy Awards in January 2024. Williams wore a very ladylike custom-made off-the-shoulder Rodarte gown that was mostly black, with a hi-low hem that exposed fluffy layers of white tulle underneath. Her shoes are black and closed-toe but with netting near the top and three rather large crystal flowers, which only add to the regal look.

Bella Ramsey

Bella Ramsey stepped out to the Emmys in a very clean, professional style that’s far different from what we usually see when it comes to suits at awards shows. The star, who’s currently working on The Last of Us Season 2 for HBO) is wearing four different colors (the forest green suit, a deep purple button-down shirt, a red turtleneck and deep burgundy shoes), but somehow it all works together to make a clean look. Speaking of the shoes, thick black soles and the silver medallion on each help to both make a statement and ground the whole outfit.

Joan Collins

Timeless style is called “timeless” for very good reasons, and that’s because anyone at any age can look good wearing it in any year! Dynasty legend Joan Collins presented at the Emmy Awards, and put on her finest pleated Jenny Packham gown in a silvery sky blue dotted with crystals. To complete her outfit, the longtime star chose a closed-toe shoe in a similar color with a little embellishment right on the top just made to peek out from under her long, caped dress.

Jeffrey Wright

It looks as though colors like red, maroon, and oxblood were kinda popular recently, doesn’t it? American Fiction lead Jeffrey Wright showed up for February 2024’s Screen Actors Guild Awards (where he was nominated for his role and as part of the cast as a whole) in a perfectly tailored tuxedo of the latter color that looked quite sharp. Even better? His sturdy shoes in a similar shade added just enough interest with different colors on the bottom.

Keith David

Shades of aubergine pretty much always help people stand out at events, and that’s even more true when you’re dressed in it head to toe and look as happy as Keith David did at the SAG awards. Also attending for American Fiction’s cast nomination, the star was, indeed, donning the color for his lovely suit with a nice sheen, tie and shirt in slightly different but still within the color family hue and, his shoes. David went with a simple shoe, but in a suede fabric that helps then stand out just a teensy bit.

Tyler James Williams

Again, head-to-toe in one color can work wonders for netting the wearer a truly memorable look, and Abbott Elementary’s Tyler James Williams definitely got the memo. He showed up and showed out for his SAG Awards appearance in a natty baby blue suit with a matching, sheer t-shirt underneath, and complimented the ‘fit with some extremely classy white shoes.

Lauren Daigle

Contemporary Christian music singer Lauren Daigle was able to celebrate her Grammy Award nominations at the ceremony in a standout of frilly navy blue and black tulle gown punctuated with multicolored accents by Shahar Avnet. But, the true winner of this ensemble might just be her shoes: white and blue polka-dotted John Fluevog sandals with a platform and a very cool sculpted heel.

CeeLo Green

Remember, wearing colors in one family from head to toe is gold…especially if you actually decide to wear different shades of actual gold! Former The Voice coach CeeLo Green headed to the Grammys with his lady friend looking like a statuette (as did she; her hair and lips are even gold), and if there was ever a time to do such a thing it’s at a major award show. Green capped off his very comfortable-looking outfit with simply styled gold shoes, because if you’re wearing all gold how many embellishments do you really need, anyway?

Fantasia Barrino

American Idol alum Fantasia Barrino was all set to perform at the 66th Grammy Awards, but first, she had to hit the red carpet. And, it would be fair to say that her style for the night was also a hit, as she stepped out in a nude gown with black accents and paired the whole thing with black platform sandals that had alluring crisscrossing straps for days. 

Kingsley Ben-Adir

The star of Bob Marley: One Love, Kingsley Ben-Adir, also took a turn on the Grammy red carpet, and while his Gucci jacket and shirt in a nearly lime green color with black slacks are nearly casual in flair, anything but can be said about his footwear. The man gave some seriously good shoe in black loafers covered in silver studs, and these just might be the best shoes on the list!

As you can see, this awards season saw a lot of fabulous and daring shoe styles on the red carpet, and we are all the better for it!

There are a lot of reasons that a young actor may change their name. Sometimes it's as simple as just wanting a cool new name. Often it's because someone is already in the union was using the actor's real name and they have to adjust. Here's a list of some of Hollywood's biggest stars and their real names. 

Ben Kingsley (Krishna Pandit Bhanji)

The great Ben Kingsley won an Oscar for his role in the great biopic Gandhi. It makes sense he would play the Indian freedom fighter, as Kingsley himself is Indian. Born to an Indian father and an English mother, Kingsley grew up in England and while his father was a practicing Shia Muslim, Kinglsey is not and considers himself a Quaker. He changed his name for that oh-so-common reason, that he feared a foreign-sounding name would hurt his career. 

Whoopi Goldberg (Caryn Elaine Johnson)

The story is both hilarious and heartfelt. She was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in New York, but when she started acting, she was accused of being flatulent, so Whoopi "short for whoopee cushion." Her surname came from a Jewish ancestor, Goldberg, so she could celebrate the diversity in her family line. 

Judy Garland (Frances Ethel Gumm)

Judy Garland first started in show business as a singer with her sisters, going by their names, The Gumm Sisters. After they were billed as the "Glum Sisters" for a show, it was suggested they change their name. Judy Gumm took her mother's maiden name, Garland, and the rest is history. 

Martin Sheen (Ramon Gerard Estevez)

Martin Sheen's real name is Ramon Gerard Estevez, but he changed it when he broke into the business for the same reason so many others have made the decision, to be less ethnic, as early in his career they said he looked Irish. One of his sons, Charlie Sheen, chose to use the same screen name, but one of his other sons, Emilio Estevez, chose to use his given name. Sheen's daughter, Renée Estevez, an occasional cast member of The West Wing with her father, also stuck with the family name. 

Vin Diesel (Mark Sinclair)

Vin Diesel took on that name after being born Mark Sinclair when he worked as a bouncer as he tried to break into show business. "Vin" comes from his adoptive surname, Vincent, and Diesel came simply because he wanted a cool name as a bouncer. 

Miley Cyrus (Destiny Hope Cyrus)

Though she was born Destiny Hope Cyrus, Miley Cyrus decided to go by the moniker she's best known as because that was simply what her family called her growing up. Her nickname in the family was originally "Smiley" which was eventually shortened to Miley. Her first couple of professional acting gigs, in the TV show Doc and the Tim Burton movie Big Fish, she was billed by her real name, Destiny Cyrus. 

Cary Grant (Archibald Alec Leach)

Early in his Vaudeville career, the great Cary Grant used his real name, Archibald Leach. When he got to Hollywood, as is so often the case, the studio didn't think the name wasn't "box office" enough, so he changed it to Cary Grant. 

Natalie Portman (Natalie Hershlag)

Natalie Portman's real name is Natalie Hershlag, but unlike so many others, she didn't change it because the name was "too ethnic" or not generic enough. As she explained to Vanity Fair in 2024, it was because she wanted to create a separate identity for her work and personal life. 

Portia De Rossi (Amanda Lee Rogers)

Portia de Rossi's name change came, at least originally, because she simply wanted a more exotic-sounding name when she started acting in her teens. Her given name, Amanda Lee Rogers, was just bland. She later revealed it may have been in part because she was struggling with her sexual identity as well. After marrying Ellen Degeneres in 2008, she changed it again, this time combining her real and stage names, Portia Lee James DeGeneres. Professionally she is still Portia de Rossi though. 

Joaquin Phoenix (Joaquin Rafael Bottom)

The Phoenix family has a fascinating history, one that includes time in the cult Children of God. When the family left that group, they made a collective decision to change their last name to one of rebirth, and Joaquin Rafael Bottom became Joaquin Phoenix.

Jamie Foxx (Eric Marlon Bishop)

Born Eric Marlon Bishop in 1967, Jamie Foxx took his stage name early when he was a standup. He says that he noticed women often got preferential spots during open mics, so he decided he wanted a more androgynous name, choosing Jamie. For his last name, he picked it as a tribute to his favorite comedian, Redd Foxx. 

John Wayne (Marion Robert Morrison)

It was a lot more common back in the day for actors to adopt cooler-sounding stage names and that was pretty much the case for Marion Robert Morrison, who ended up John Wayne. It's easy to see why he did it, whether it was a good idea or not. It worked for him. 

Tom Cruise (Thomas Cruise Mapother IV)

Top Gun: Maverick star Tom Cruise didn't change much, but it was a meaningful change. His real name at birth was Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, obviously named after his father, hence the suffix. Cruise had a very difficult relationship with his dad, so when he began his career, he dropped the Mapother in part to distance himself from his then-estranged father. The two later reunited when his father was on his deathbed. 

Olivia Wilde (Olivia Cockburn)

Actor and director Olivia Wilde's story about why she changed her name is pretty simple. She decided she wanted to stage name, and at the time was acting in Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest, which she loved. So she went with Wilde as a homage to the legendary playwright. 

Meg Ryan (Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra)

It's pretty easy to see why Meg Ryan chose to simplify her name when she started acting. Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra sure is a mouthful, so cutting a 25-letter name down to a seven-letter one makes sense. Meg is short for Margaret and Ryan is the maiden name of maternal grandmother. 

Kirk Douglas (Issur Danielovitch)

In another example of early Hollywood stars fearing their given names would hold them back for sounding too ethnic, Kirk Douglas changed his name from Issur Danielovitch. He told People it was because he feared it would hold him back and it sounded "too Semitic." 

Mahershala Ali (Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore)

Like others on this list, it's easy to see why Mahershala Ali changed his name from Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore. Not only is Mahershalalhashbaz really hard to spell and pronounce, but the Green Book actor also converted to Islam as a teenager, taking Mahershala Ali as his Muslim name. 

Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jeane Mortenson)

One of the most famous name changes in Hollywood history is Norma Jeane Mortensen changing her name to Marilyn Monroe. There is no big story behind it, it simply was a snazzier name and Monroe was her mother's maiden name. 

Michael Keaton (Michael Douglas)

This one is easy to understand. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star Michael Keaton's real name is Michael Douglas. Obviously with an actor already in the union (Romancing The Stone star Michael Douglas), Keaton had to come up with a new name for billing. He chose the last name out of respect for early Hollywood star Buster Keaton. 

Michael Caine (Maurice Joseph Micklewhite)

If you think Maurice Micklewhite is a bit of a mouthful, you're not alone. English legend Michael Caine thought so too. In 2016, he legally changed his name from Micklewhite to Caine, because, according to the Batman Begins actor says it caused too much confusion at airports. 

Winona Ryder (Winona Laura Horowitz)

This one is a little in dispute - though not really. Charlie Sheen once claimed he gave Winona Horowitz her new name, Ryder, after listening to The Doors song "Riders on the Storm." Ryder says she got it when her father asked if she wanted a stage name while they were listening to Mitch Ryder. 

Demi Moore (Demetria Gene Guynes)

The story of Demi Moore's stage name (changed from Demetria Guynes) is both mundane and unique. Before she started appearing in acting roles, Moore married musician Freddy Moore when she was 18. So while Moore was her married name, it was a new name, just as her career was taking off. Demi is simply short for Demetria. 

Dove Cameron (Chloe Celeste Hosterman)

Dove Cameron has never explained why she chose Cameron as her stage name, but her reason for choosing Dove is bittersweet. Dove was her father's nickname for her and after he took his own life, she decided she wanted to go by that, in tribute to him. 

Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian)

It takes a lot of gall and a lot of talent to decide you're going to go with a one-name moniker, and Cher has oodles of both. It's not hard to see what she did, she simply shortened her first name, Cherilyn, and dropped her last. 

Olivia Colman (Sarah Caroline Colman)

Like others on this list, Olivia Colman couldn't join the actors union with her birth name, Sarah Colman, so she changed it. As she explained in 2013, Colman chose Olivia because it is one of her best friends from college's name and she loved it. 

Carmen Electra (Tara Leigh Patrick)

There aren't many people who can claim the legendary Prince gave them their name, but Carmen Electra can. Way back at the start of her career, when she was working with the Purple One, he decided Tara wasn't good enough and named her Carmen. In 2023, Tara Leigh Patrick officially changed her legal name to Carmen Electra, because who wouldn't?

Lily James (Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson)

Like others here, Lily James renamed herself in honor of her late father, James. Though Thomson was also her father's name, of course, she wanted to do more, deciding taking on the stage name "James" to do so. 

Nicolas Cage (Nicolas Kim Coppola)

Nicolas Cage's first movie role was basically just a background character in Fast Times At Ridgemont High. He is billed in the credits by his legal name, Nicolas Coppola, and yeah, it's that Coppola. While on the set of Fast Times, his co-stars would endlessly quote his famous uncle's (Francis Ford Coppola) movies. He decided then and there he needed to distance himself from his famous family (Talia Shire is his aunt, and Sophia Coppola and Jason Schwartzman are cousins).

Julianne Moore (Julie Anne Smith)

Julie Smith is a pretty common name, and when the great Julieanne Moore hit Hollywood, she soon discovered the name was already taken in the union. She tried different combinations, but they were all spoken for. In the end, she combined her first and middle names, and took her father's name, Moore, as her surname. It's like having to go through dozens of combos to find the right vanity plate, but in the end, it's hard to imagine the actor with any other name. 

Mindy Kaling (Vera Mindy Chokalingam)

It seems Hollywood is still getting people to change their names if they or people around them fear a real name is too complicated or foreign. Indian actor and writer Mindy Kaling is a recent example when she simplified her name from Vera Mindy Chokalingam to Mindy Kaling. 

David Tennant (David John McDonald)

Former Dr. Who and Jessica Jones star David Tennant has a tried and true story as well, his real name, David McDonald, was taken. He explained some years ago on James Corden's show, where he also explained that he chose "Tennant" because he saw the name from a music magazine in an article about Neil Tennant of The Pet Shop Boys. 

Chevy Chase (Cornelius Crane Chase)

Chevy Chase comes from a very blood-blue family who can trace their roots in America back to the Mayflower. Cornelius Crane Chase, the Vacation star's real name, reflects this perfectly. The reason he goes by "Chevy" is because his grandmother started calling him that when he was a kid. So, not much of a story here, but he's real name is just so posh, that we had to include it here. 

Helen Mirren (Helen Lydia Mironoff)

Like others, this one is just a technicality. Helen Mirren was born Helen Lydia Mironoff in London to an English mother and a Russian father. When Mirren was 10 years old, her father anglicized the family name to "Mirren." 

Mahershala Ali has been set to be Blade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the bombshell announcement was made during 2019’s San Diego Comic-Con, but the road there has been a rocky one. Over four years later, the Oscar winner has yet to step on the set of one of Phase 6‘s upcoming Marvel movies, but he has just shared a hopeful update on playing the Daywalker. 

As Ali, who took home the Academy Award for Moonlight, was promoting his latest film, Netflix’s Leave The World Behind, the actor was asked about the status of Blade, which is currently expected to be released a month shy of two years from now. Here’s what he said: 

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Mahershala Ali said that the team over at Marvel Studios is hard at work on Blade, and he’s personally very “encouraged” about where the movie is headed these days. That’s a solid update considering the movie has gone through the ringer since it was announced at SDCC 2019. 

The movie was initially going to be released on November 3, 2023 with Mogul Mowgli director Bassam Tariq at the helm, and PEN15 and Watchmen writer Stacy Osei-Kuffour behind the script. However, both have since dropped the project and a new team has been hired. One year ago, Lovecraft Country’s Yann Demange was named Blade’s new director, and then Logan and Alien: Covenant’s Michael Green signed on to write the movie’s screenplay instead. 

Blade started gaining momentum in early 2023, between the reported casting of horror star Mia Goth of X, Pearl and Infinity Pool, alongside Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre. However, their casting was followed by the WGA writers strike, which lasted a historical 148 days, along with the SAG-AFTRA strike, which lasted 118 days and led to another setback for Blade. 

Now that both the filmmakers behind Blade and its actors are able to work again (as of November 8), Mahershala Ali has shared that the movie is back in business. Given the movie’s current release date, we imagine the cameras will need to begin rolling sometime during 2024, but it sounds like at the moment, the movie is back in the pre-production phase at least. 

Following Deadpool 3 boasting the first R-rating for an MCU film, Demange has previously announced that Blade will be going for an R rating as well. It's exciting to hear that Mahershala Ali’s debut as the Marvel vampire hunter is still on and moving forward after it has experienced a few delays already. While we wait for Ali’s MCU role, you can catch the actor in Leave The World Behind, which will become available to Netflix subscribers this Friday, December 8. 

Netflix has seen its share of A-list talent starring in its original movies this year, with Adam Sandler, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Lopez, Natalie Portman and more going straight to streaming with some of their latest projects. Now Julia Roberts will team up with a number of other big names for Leave the World Behind, a movie from Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground. The movie is set for release December 8 on the streamer, and it’s been racking up quite a bit of positive feedback from the critics.

Julia Roberts stars as Amanda Sandford, whose family finds itself in unsettling circumstances on vacation when Mahershala Ali’s G.H. Scott shows up at the door claiming to be the owner of the rental home. The all-star cast also includes Ethan Hawke, Myha'la and Kevin Bacon, so let’s see what the critics are saying, starting with Constance Grady of Vox. The critic rates the 2023 Netflix movie schedule entry 3.5 out of 5, praising writer/director/producer Sam Esmail as well as Mahershala Ali — in a role originally intended for Denzel Washington — who makes a meal out of the role. Grady continues: 

Tom Gliatto of People says it’s a suspenseful film that plots its course from tiny aggressions to colossal ones, with tension strong enough to snap a pencil. Gliatto continues: 

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gives Leave the World Behind 3.5 out of 4 stars, praising the sharp pacing, wonderful ensemble cast and near-perfect payoff. Roeper writes: 

Carla Renata of The Curvy Critic calls the movie “spectacularly smart,” and one that will leave audiences stressed out and longing for hope. Its cast is a “pure chemistry fire of riches,” with each actor bringing specificity and authenticity to their character. The critic says of this 2023 new movie release: 

Kristen Lopez of The Wrap calls the apocalypse film a “two-hour descent into chaos,” warning that audiences will be compelled yet utterly terrified. While Julia Roberts and Myha’la are “amazing” to watch play off of each other, this critic agrees with others who say Mahershala Ali steals the show. Lopez concludes: 

Leave the World Behind has already compiled impressive scores on Rotten Tomatoes, with 39 critics cumulatively rating it 79% Fresh, and the audience score even higher at 89%, though that’s also from fewer than 50 ratings. We’ll have to see how audiences continue to receive the movie when it becomes available to stream with a Netflix subscription on Friday, December 8. In the meantime, check out what else is new and coming soon to Netflix. 

As Marvel’s current direction comes under question, a huge rumor emerged about Blade being the third or fourth biggest character in his MCU debut. The speculation led to the Marvel fandom questioning the troubled production’s pre-strike direction. Now, a Balde writer has emerged to share his thoughts on the wild script rumor.

Film writer and producer Michael Starrbury hopped on his X (formerly known as Twitter) account (via Comic Book Movie) to set the record straight about the MCU reboot. Although he has since deleted both the tweet and his account overall. Starrbury replaced original Balde scribe Stacy Osei-Kuffour late last year when Yann Demange joined as Blade's director. He worked on the rewrite for months, and was replaced before the writers’ strike began. Since departing the project, he has kept silent on the rumors until now. The Hollywood scribe answered a recent report on the upcoming movie, saying:

So, it appeared at one point the beloved Daywalker was the focus of his self-titled movie. Thankfully, the When They See Us writer pushed back against some alleged misinformation. It appeared he was continuing and rewriting the work by Osei-Kuffour despite reported creative differences before he and Demange joined the Marvel reboot.

However, since Starrbury left the project, True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto and Logan writer Michael Green have put their touch on Marvel’s favorite vampire slayer. So, his or Osei-Kuffour’s works might not be the source of the online chaos. Maybe the direction changed after he departed the upcoming Marvel movie.

Answering the rumor surrounding the MCU reboot put a spotlight on the troubled production. The first bump for the MCU reboot came when original director Bassam Tariq left the film days before production was set to start. The project suffered another setback as pre-production was halted following Tariq’s departure. The Blade MCU debut and other Marvel films were pushed back as a result.

Of course, things got back on track following Demange joining the production. The Marvel film faced another setback as writing on the film paused due to the writers’ strike. Of course, the superhero flick is in limbo right now as the actors’ strike continues. However, positive news emerged as Mia Goth reportedly joined the film in an undisclosed role.

Despite its setbacks and rumors, Blade is set to arrive in theaters on February 14, 2025. The reboot will serve as Phase Five’s finale. Check out the upcoming Marvel movie schedule to see which films are coming up next. Next on the MCU schedule is The Marvels, which will hit movie cinemas on November 10.

In the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, encompassing movies and TV projects available with a Disney+ subscription, fans eagerly await Mahershala Ali’s Blade. His casting as the iconic vampire hunter was announced over four years ago, and it thrilled MCU enthusiasts. Yet, a recent report unveils the rocky path to bringing The Daywalker back to screens, raising concerns about delays and creative direction. Now, knowing the near-miss story that was in development, the character’s MCU debut delay doesn’t bother me at all.

A recent bombshell Variety report reveals that Kevin Feige, the mastermind behind the MCU’s success, has been axing projects that fall short of Marvel’s high standards. This cautious approach follows recent disappointments, such as Ant-Man 3’s underwhelming box office performance and the high-profile issues with She-Hulk.

The long-awaited Blade reboot, initially set for the 2023 movie schedule, has faced several project challenges and setbacks. Last September, director Bassam Tariq left the reboot, and at least five writers and two directors have been shuffled in to crack the formula for the character’s MCU debut. The most troubling turn of events seemed to be when the project was abruptly halted a mere six weeks before production was set to begin. This unexpected decision has understandably left fans anxious about the beloved character’s future.

But perhaps the delay was for the best, especially when considering the puzzling revelation from the report that, at one point, the script took a bizarre narrative turn. It allegedly transformed into a story led by women, filled with life lessons, and relegated the Midnight Sons team member to the fourth lead in his own movie. Now, this is not to diminish the importance of female-led stories or life lessons in cinema. Still, it does seem like a questionable decision, especially when you have someone as talented as Mahershala Ali leading your cast. It’s important to promote diversity and inclusion in storytelling, but not at the expense of sidelining the titular character in a film centered around his return.

That is why I'm not mad about the movie taking its time, and figuring out a new plan before moving forward with production. 

Amid Blade’s saga, reports have emerged concerning Marvel Studios’ desire to resurrect deceased characters like Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark/Iron Man. Along with the reports about their future plans, the article also revealed that both She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and WandaVision faced significant VFX challenges, with some final effects being rushed in post-premiere for Disney+ viewers. Surprisingly, it’s come to light that Victoria Alonso, the Marvel Studios executive fired last year, may have been unfairly labeled as the “scapegoat” for She-Hulk’s problems. The real issue appears to have been a “lack of oversight on script development,” leading to VFX hiccups. 

The Blade situation raises legitimate concerns. While it's not unusual for a big-budget project to face creative challenges and delays, the situation surrounding everyone's favorite half-vampire crime fighter has been ongoing for a long time, and it seems like they've had to jump over way more hurdles than usual. Based on the behind-the-scenes look the Variety article has given us, it’s clear not all is well at the House of Ideas and their schedule of upcoming superhero movies. Here's hoping they can get things back on track before audiences completely check out. 

Looking at all the updates for the Mahershala Ali-led Blade reboot, it seems as though this upcoming Marvel movie has been facing a particularly uphill battle getting off the ground. For instance, last September, director Bassam Tariq departed the reboot, and a few months later, Yann Demange was hired to take over helming duties. Following the reveal last week that True Detective’s Nic Pizzolatto has been brought in to polish the Blade script, it looked as though this project was on a steady track to begin principal photography soon. Evidently that’s not the case, as word’s come in that it’s been hit with another setback due to the writers strike.

Although the WGA writers strike has already impacted a number of television shows since it began at 12:01 am on May 2, THR reports that Blade is the first tentpole picture to be disrupted by it. The  reboot has shut down preproduction, which has already been paused once before. The cast and crew members are being notified of this development, and naturally this means cameras won’t begin rolling next month as original planned. Once the strike is finished, then Marvel Studios will restart Blade’s production. 

The Blade reboot was first announced back at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, with Mahershala Ali being brought on stage during the Marvel Studios presentation. Originally Stacy Osei-Kuffour was hired to write the movie, but when Yan Demange was brought in as the new director, Michael Starrbury was selected to rewrite the script, and Nic Pizzolatto was working off that material before the writers strike began. Blade will mark Ali’s third time playing a Marvel character, having previously appeared in Luke Cage as Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes and voiced Aaron Davis, a.k.a. The Prowler, in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Regardless of how long the writers strike lasts, with Blade already having to wait longer to roll cameras, it’s likely the movie will have to be delayed further. It’s currently set to conclude the MCU’s Phase 5 on September 6, 2024, so now the question is if it’ll simply closer to the end of that year, or if it’ll become necessary to turn it into a 2025 release. The last of the Wesley Snipes-led Blade movies, Blade: Trinity, was released in December 2004.

However, as far as the entire Marvel Studios operations go, there’s plenty to keep the company busy even in the midst of the writers strike. Captain America: New World Order, Agatha: Coven of Chaos and Wonder Man are all currently in front of cameras, Deadpool 3 is set to begin shooting later this month, and Thunderbolts is still on track for principal photography to start in June. It is noted in the article that Fantastic Four, which is slated for early 2025 and in the casting process right now, is looking to begin production In January 2024, but may not come to pass if the writers strike lasts for six or more months, though THR’s sources say that’s “unlikely” to happen.

Keep visiting CinemaBlend for more updates on what’s happening in Blade, including when work on the movie will resume and if/when it’s pushed further down the theatrical calendar. You’re welcome to pass the time by watching the Marvel movies in order with a Disney+ subscription.

This July will mark four years since it was announced at San Diego Comic-Con that Mahershala Ali would lead a Blade reboot for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We’ve since heard Ali as the character in Eternals, but there’s quite a ways to go until the vampire hunter’s upcoming Marvel movie arrives. However, for those of you who enjoyed the actor’s time on True Detective Season 3, there’s good news, as Blade is reuniting him with the HBO anthology show’s creator.

Nic Pizzolatto, the mastermind behind True Detective (which can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription) has been brought in for writing work on Blade. However, rather than penning an entirely new screenplay, THR shared that Pizzolatto is working off the draft put together by Michael Starrbury of When They See Us fame, and has been doing so “for a few weeks now.” Along with his work on True Detective, he’s written/co-written The Magnificent Seven (the remake, obviously), Galveston and The Guilty, as well as did uncredited work on Deadwood: The Movie.

Following three years after his first Marvel outing as Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes in Luke Cage, and just a year after hew voiced Aaron Davis/The Prowler in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, True Detective Season 3 saw Mahershala Ali playing Detective Wayne Hayes, with his costars including Carmen Ejogo, Stephen Dorff, Scott McNairy and Ray Fisher. Ali earned an Emmy nomination for that performance, and while it isn’t clarified in this report if he had any direct involvement in bringing Pizzolatto aboard for Blade, hopefully these two working together again will produce similar magic.

The news of Nic Pizzolatto joining Blade comes five months after Michael Starrbury was announced to be writing the reboot, along with Yann Demange taking over as the director following Bassam Tariq’s exit in late September 2022. As far as the on-camera talent that will be joining Ali, it was reported a few weeks ago that X and Pearl star Mia Goth had joined the cast that also includes Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre. Like his comic book counterpart and Wesley Snipes’ version, Ali’s Blade will be a half-human/half-vampire slayer of the latter bloodsuckers, but specific details about what awaits him in this reboot are being kept under wraps.

As things currently stand, Blade is set to wrap up the MCU’s Phase 5 on September 6, 2024, just two months before Deadpool 3 ushers in Phase 6. Filming is expected to begin in May, so ideally once that happens we’ll learn about other actors appearing in it and maybe even some plot details. Until then, Disney+ subscribers can easily stream most MCU content, but if you’d rather revisit Wesley Snipes’ Blade movies, those can be accessed with an HBO Max subscription.

Over a decade ago, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was founded with a principal lineup of characters including Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, and Thor, and among the many things that has changed since those early years is an increased focus on diversity and youth. In Phase 4 particularly, both on the big screen and the small, MCU fans were introduced to a fantastic roster of new heroes from a wide variety of backgrounds, and they all are expected to contribute in major ways to what’s ahead in the franchise.

Of course, given the scale of the canon at this point, it can be tricky to keep track of all the new names being introduced, so we’ve put together this guide highlighting all of the fresh faces that fans should get used to seeing in Marvel Phase 5 and beyond.

Alaqua Cox As Echo

Marvel fans were first introduced to the awesomeness of Alaqua Cox’s Echo in Hawkeye, where she was introduced as an intense crime boss looking to get revenge for the death of her father. She’ll be back soon in her own solo Disney+ series, which will see her, in part, deal with the consequences from taking a shot at Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin.

Awkwafina As Katy

Awkwafina’s Katy is a normal woman who is thrown headfirst into the craziness of the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks to her friendship with Shang-Chi (more on him later). Where he goes, we expect she will follow and have his back – especially now that she has honed some killer archery skills.

Brian Tyree Henry As Phastos

A member of the Eternals, Brian Tyree Henry’s Phastos has a bit of a dark history in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as it was his incredible ingenuity that in part led to the horrific bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. This led him to put aside his skills as an inventor and focus on living a human-like existence raising a son with his husband.

Danny Ramirez As Joaquin Torres

During Steve Rogers’ run as Captain America, he had Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson as brothers in arms who always fought by his side, and now that Sam is wearing the star-spangled suit and shield, he has Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres. Fans first meet Joaquin as he is helping Sam during an Air Force mission in The Falcon And The Winter Solider, and we will soon see the characters back together on screen in Captain America: New World Order.

Dominique Thorne As Riri Williams

Move over, Shuri and Peter Parker. There is a new hero in the MCU vying for the title of “most brilliant young inventor.” Dominque Thorne’s Riri Williams makes a remarkable impression as a genius technological mind in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, making her first steps towards being known to the world as Ironheart, and audiences will get to see that journey continue in the upcoming Ironheart Disney+ series.

Florence Pugh As Yelena Belova

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has no shortage of charismatic ass-kickers, but Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova has already made herself stand out from the crowd following Black Widow and the Hawkeye series. The former Russian assassin is, for all intents and purposes, the franchise’s new Black Widow, following the death of Natasha Romanoff, and there is anticipation for everything she has in the works – the standout title being Thunderbolts.

Gemma Chan As Sersi

At the end of Eternals, it looks like the brilliant, matter-transforming Sersi, played by Gemma Chan, is on a path to start living a happy, human-like life – with her relationship with Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman deepening. Sadly, those plans hit a snag when the Celestial, Arishem, comes to Earth and kidnaps her to space along with the other Eternals still alive and on the planet (including the aforementioned Phastos and the forthcoming Kingo). What’s next for her is unknown, but exciting.

Hailee Steinfeld As Kate Bishop

After decades of fighting for S.H.I.E.L.D. and serving as an Avenger, Clint Barton has certainly earned retirement – but it doesn’t seem he’ll be quite ready to hang up his purple costume until his successor is ready to take on the Hawkeye mantle. Said successor is Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop: an incredibly gifted and enthusiastic young woman who has a wide variety of skills, but chief among them is her talent with a bow-and-arrow.

Iman Vellani As Kamala Khan

Played by MCU superfan Iman Vellani, Kamala Khan is an Avengers superfan in the canon who lives the dream of gaining powers. In Ms. Marvel, it at first seems that her energy-based powers come from wearing a supernatural bangle, but she has since been recognized as the franchise’s first identified mutant. Expect that to come up when we see her next in The Marvels.

India Rose Hemsworth As Love

We have no idea when we will next see Love, or if she will continue to be played by India Rose Hemsworth in future movies after her debut at the end of Thor: Love And Thunder, but this list would be incomplete without mentioning her. She is the daughter of Gorr The God Butcher, and has remarkable gifts as a result – meaning Thor is going to have his hand’s full in the future as her guardian.

Kathryn Newton As Cassie Lang

Technically, Marvel fans have known Cassie Lang since Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (first played by Abby Ryder Fortson), but she is all grown up now following The Blip, and ready to be reintroduced as a new hero: Stature. She’s played by Kathryn Newton in Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania, which features her coming into her own as a scientist and dabbling in her father’s quantum research.

Kumail Nanjiani As Kingo

Like Phastos and Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani’s Kingo was seemingly in big trouble the last time we saw him – taken by Arishem into space to face consequences for their role in halting the birth of the new Celestial being born inside Earth. Not only is the character’s fate unclear, but his incredibly successful, multi-generational Bollywood acting career may be in jeopardy as well.

Lauren Ridloff As Makkari

Unlike the other Eternals who have already been mentioned, Lauren Ridloff’s Makkari didn’t stay on Earth at the end of the 2021 blockbuster – instead choosing to leave the planet with Thena and Druig to find Eternals on other worlds and tell them about their true natures. This plan, however, may change in the wake of the space travelers learning what happened to Phastos, Sersi, and Kingo.

Lia McHugh As Sprite

Once an Eternal, but no more! At the end of Eternals, the forever-youthful Sprite, played by Lia McHugh, undergoes a transformation and becomes truly human thanks to Sersi. Will she enjoy the experience? We’ll have to wait and find out.

Mahershala Ali As Blade

We’ve thus far only heard the voice of Mahershala Ali’s Blade, the infamous comic book vampire hunter, but soon he will be getting his very own MCU spotlight with the Phase 5 release of his solo film. Be warned, bloodsuckers!

May Calamawy As Layla El-Faouly

Indiana Jones is cool and all, but is he imbued with superpowers as a result of being the avatar for an Egyptian god? The answer is no, and that’s the edge that May Calamawy’s Layla El-Faouly will always maintain over her fellow pop culture archeologist. She made her MCU debut as the wife of Marc Spector (more on him in a bit) in Disney+’s Moon Knight, and by the finale she takes on the superhero mantle Scarlet Scarab.

Meng'er Zhang As Xu Xialing

The leader of the Ten Rings is a daunting position, as the organization orchestrates crime on a global level, but Meng’er Zhang’s Xu Xialing looks pretty damn comfortable in the role in the end credits of Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings. She is officially the successor to The Mandarin in the MCU, and we’ll have to wait and see how she wields her power.

Michaela Coel As Aneka

It’s a high honor in Wakanda to be named a member of the Dora Milaje, but Michaela Coel’s Aneka gets an even bigger privilege than that in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In the blockbuster she is featured fighting alongside Okoye wearing one of the two Midnight Angel suits, and the will and skill demonstrated in the battle against Talocan will surely only fortify her reputation among the royals going forward.

Oscar Isaac As Marc Spector/Steven Grant

Who is the hero known as Moon Knight? That’s a complicated question, as his secret identity is fractured as a result of him having dissociative identity disorder. He was born Marc Spector, who becomes a skilled soldier in his adulthood, but he also lives a life as Steven Grant, a museum curator in England. Obviously only making things more complicated is that he is the avatar for the justice-obsessed Egyptian god Khonshu.

Simu Liu As Shang-Chi

Xu Xialing may control the organization known as the Ten Rings, but Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi is the one who actually possesses the incredibly powerful bands that give the wearer supernatural abilities. At the end of Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, the hero is shown getting back to a somewhat normal life and hanging out with Katy, but it most definitely won’t be long until he returns to a good fight against evil.

Sophia Di Martino As Sylvie

Sophia Di Martino’s Sylvie is unique on this list in that she is the only one not from the main MCU universe; she is a version of Loki from an alternate dimension with a quest to destroy the Time Variance Authority. She actually accomplished this task at the end of Loki Season 1…but we don’t know yet how it has changed her existence.

Tatiana Maslany As Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk

It’s not easy being both a Hulk and a lawyer, but Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters, a.k.a. She-Hulk, makes it work in the meta Disney+ comedy series, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. She’s mostly focused on the legal realm for now, namely practicing superhero law, but fans anticipate a call to action with the Avengers before too long.

Tenoch Huerta As Namor

Is Namor a hero or a villain? That depends on your perspective – but he’s certainly a hero in the eyes of the people of Talocan: the underwater nation he rules over like a god. Like Kamala Khan, he’s a mutant and he has remarkable abilities beyond his capacity to live underwater. He can fly thanks to Hermes-like wings on his ankles, and he is both phenomenally strong and durable.

Teyonah Parris As Monica Rambeau

The life of Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau changes in every way during the events of WandaVision. Working as an agent of S.W.O.R.D., she is sent to investigate a strange anomaly in northern New Jersey – and not only does she literally get sucked into Scarlet Witch’s grief-related drama, but she ends up gaining superpowers. We’ll see her put those skills to use in The Marvels, where she’ll be featured opposite both Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel.

Xochitl Gomez As America Chavez

Phase 5 has been called the second phase of The Multiverse Saga – and that could suggest that we’ll end up seeing huge things coming from Xochitl Gomez’s America Chavez. As established in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, the young hero has the unique ability to jump across universes, and that should be a pretty handy skill as existence gets closer and closer to potential chaos and nothingness.

For further reading, check out our Marvel Movies In Order feature and our Upcoming Marvel Movies and Upcoming Marvel TV guides. 

Years after Mahershala Ali was announced as the new Blade for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a massive setback saw original director Bassam Tariq depart the project. As the reboot was supposed to have started shooting this month, it goes without saying that this was a huge blow to the machinery that usually hums along over at Marvel Studios.

Well, it appears that this new Blade movie is no longer ice skating uphill, as a new director has been found. THR announced that director Yann Demange is now going to be helming The Daywalker’s big screen return, with an intent to film at some point in 2023. That's also led to some other big news falling into place, which makes this once rocky road a little smoother.

With this news comes some other key Blade details, as the new iteration of the film’s script is now set to be written by Emmy-winner Michael Starrbury. That last detail is particularly important, as Mahershala Ali was mentioned as being “personally involved” in that hire. On top of all of these developments is talk of a "dark and gritty tone" for the movie, which has some thinking that we're headed towards another R-rated Blade film after all. 

The official line of “creative differences” allegedly shut Blade down in pre-production, with rumors floating around involving the frustration of Mahershala Ali. So one could see why his input would be so important in the process of redeveloping the project for a better bite at the apple. 

Introduced as a vocal cameo in the Eternals’ post-credits sequence, Ali’s Blade has not yet been seen on screen. That may have been a signal that Marvel Studios was building itself a buffer to account for any potential re-casting that may have needed to take place. So far, that insurance policy doesn’t look like it’ll be cashed out any time soon since Mahershala Ali is still on the project, and these new developments sound very promising. 

Marvel’s cinematic universe has seen other setbacks and surprises shuffle the deck in phases past. However, this latest round probably seemed like a cataclysmic shift, as pushing back Blade caused a cascade of other MCU release date delays, including the recently-announced Avengers: Secret Wars. 

The board has been set yet again, with all of the pieces in place and ready to move comic movie fans into Phases 5 and 6 of Marvel Studios’ latest master plan. As it stands, Blade is now scheduled for a September 6, 2024 release. To see where that falls in the schedule of upcoming Marvel movies, there’s a whole listing that awaits your eager eyes. If you want to watch Wesley Snipes’ classic Blade trilogy, those films are available to stream (at the time of publication) with a Hulu subscription.

The past several months have a number of upcoming Marvel movies take major steps forward, including WandaVision’s Matt Shakman becoming Fantastic Four’s director and Deadpool 3 bringing in Hugh Jackman to play Wolverine one more time. And then there’s the new Blade movie, which hit a bump in the road two weeks back in the form of director Bassam Tariq exiting the project. Well, sorry to those of you who are looking forward to the Mahershala Ali-led reboot, but there’s been another setback.

In the wake of Bassam Tariq dropping the Blade directorial reins, THR has learned that Marvel Studios has temporarily halted all “production-related activities” in Atlanta, Georgia on the The Daywalker’s Marvel Cinematic Universe debut. The plan was for Blade to begin shooting in November, but now the pause button has been pressed while the studio searches for a new filmmaker to fill Tariq’s shoes and carry out further development. The publication’s source said crew members were notified early Tuesday, and because of this decision, it’s unlikely that Blade will end up hitting its currently slotted November 3, 2023 release date.

Bassam Tariq’s departure from Blade was attributed by Marvel Studios to “continued shifts in our production schedule,” although he will remain attached as an executive producer. While some might have presumed that a replacement director would be tapped soon after, two weeks later, Marvel has decided to “slow down and deepen the search,” as well as take extra time to hash out other elements of Blade, with a source saying that “they really want to get this right.” This isn’t the first time that Blade’s production has needed to be shifted, although those prior occasions were due to script rewrites.

In 2019, 15 years after Wesley Snipes’ time as Blade ended with Blade: Trinity, it was announced at San Diego Comic-Con that Mahershala Ali would play the MCU’s incarnation of Eric Brooks, the dhampir (half-human/half-vampire) who spends his time slicing and dicing these bloodsuckers. While we’re still a ways off from seeing Ali as Blade, the actor did vocally cameo in Eternals’ post-credits scene when his character spoke to Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman offscreen. This is Ali’s third Marvel-related role, having previously played Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes in Luke Cage and Aaron Davis/The Prowler in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Beau du Mayo, whose credits include Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Witcher and Moon Knight, wrote the latest Blade draft. While Mahershala Ali is the only officially-confirmed cast member so far, it was reported in November 2021 that Da 5 Bloods’ Delroy Lindo had come aboard, and that was followed four months later by the reveal that Krypton’s Aaron Pierre would also be involved. It’s unclear if Blade’s latest production delay will prevent either of these actors from appearing, but considering that Ali was the one who approached Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige about playing Blade, clearly this is an important project for him.

CinemaBlend will continuing passing along updates on Blade’s progress, as well as let you know if its release date ends up changing. For now, you can pass the time by watching the Marvel movies in order or reading our coverage on other MCU installments.

It is not unusual for an actor to play more than one comic book character role. Sometimes this means they first star in a DC movie before switching sides to the Marvel movies (and vice versa) or appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe years after playing an entirely different character from Marvel Comics in a film that predates the shared universe’s creation. 

However, what if I told you that there are also many cases of actors who have double-dipped in the MCU? While the Marvel movies’ timeline is usually pretty tight, there are a surprising amount of times when the same actor played more than one character in the same interconnected franchise and the following are some notable examples of such Marvel movie characters.

Tara Strong - Miss Minutes (Loki), Mainframe (Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3)

Famed voice actor Tara Strong has played multiple iconic comic book characters, including two in the MCU alone. She made her franchise debut on the Disney+ series Loki as the Time Variance Authority’s animated, AI mascot, Miss Minutes, and later cameoed in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as Mainframe – a member of the OG GOTG from the comics who was previously voiced by Miley Cyrus in Vol. 2.  

David Dastmalchian - Kurt Goreshter (Ant-Man), Veb (Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania)

Another actor known for many, many comic book character roles is David Dastmalchian, who gave a memorable appearance in the first two Ant-Man movies as Scott Lang’s (Paul Rudd) Russian-born, computer hacker friend, Kurt Goreshter. While Kurt did not appear in the third installment from 2023, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Dastmalchian still got to be a part of the adventure as the voice of Veb – a creature who helps Scott and Cassie (Kathryn Newton) understand the Quantum Realm’s inhabitants by feeding them his ooze.

Seth Green - Stark Expo Fan (Iron Man 2), Howard The Duck (Guardians Of The Galaxy)

The post-credit sequence from 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy confirmed that, in the MCU, there exists Howard the Duck, who was voiced by Seth Green for a brief, but memorable, cameo as the fowl private eye who would make subsequent appearances. Four years earlier, Green made an even more brief appearance in Iron Man 2 as a fan of Tony Stark seen at his expo.

Michelle Yeoh – Aleta Ogord (Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2), Ying Nan (Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings)

Before earning an Oscar for her performance in one of the best Multiverse movies, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Michelle Yeoh entered the Marvel Multiverse with her cameo in 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as Aleta Ogord – one of the original members from the team’s comic book iteration. Four years later, the actor seemed to create a rift in the timeline when she appeared in the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast as the title hero’s aunt, Ying Nan. 

Linda Cardellini – Laura Barton (Various), Lylla (Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3)

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, the team was introduced to Clint Barton’s (Jeremy Renner) wife, Laura, whom Linda Cardellini would reprise in Avengers: Endgame and the Disney+ TV show, Hawkeye. In 2023, the Freaks and Geeks cast alum would reunite with Scooby-Doo scribe James Gunn to voice Rocket Raccoon’s friend, Lylla, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Nathan Fillion – Monstrous Inmate (Guardians Of The Galaxy), Karja (Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3), Headpool (Deadpool & Wolverine)

Another actor known for his frequent collaborations with James Gunn (Slither, The Suicide Squad) is Nathan Fillion, who voiced an alien prisoner threatening Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy before receiving a bigger role in Vol. 3 as the Orgosphere’s cocky head of security, Karja. The former Firefly cast member became an MCU triple-dipper with his cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine voicing Headpool, which also marks his second time playing a disembodied head after his role on one of Fillion's best TV shows, Santa Clarita Diet.

Sean Gunn – Rocket Raccoon, Kraglin (Various)

The Guardians of the Galaxy’s furry weapons expert, Rocket Raccoon, is a role shared between Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper providing his Boston-accented voice and director James Gunn’s brother, Sean Gunn, performing the mo-cap on set. Gunn has also appeared “alongside himself” on several occasions, as recently as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, as former Ravager, Kraglin.

Laura Haddock – Autograph Seeker (Captain America: The First Avenger), Meredith Quill (Guardians Of The Galaxy Movies)

Speaking of Guardians of the Galaxy stars, most fans are likely to recognize British actor Laura Haddock as Peter Quill’s mother, Meredith, in the cold open flashbacks from the first movie and its sequel. However, the Downton Abbey: A New Era cast member’s MCU tenure actually dates back to 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, in which she plays a 1940s-era woman affectionately approaching Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) for an autograph. The characters’ resemblance led to a fan theory suggesting Cap is Star-Lord’s real grandfather, which James Gunn later debunked.

Kenneth Choi – Jim Morita (Captain America: The First Avenger), Principal Morita (Spider-Man: Homecoming)

Speaking of Captain America: The First Avenger stars, Private Jim Morita — Steve Rogers’ Japanese-American teammate on the Howling Commandos — was played by Kenneth Choi. The actor (also part of the DC Extended Universe as a Yakuza boss in Suicide Squad) would later appear in Spider-Man: Homecoming as Morita’s grandson, who also happens to be Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) high school principal.

Benedict Cumberbatch – Doctor Strange, Dormammu (Doctor Strange)

An interesting example of a Marvel actor appearing as two different characters in the same movie occurs in Doctor Strange. Benedict Cumberbatch debuted as one-time Sorcerer Supreme Stephen Strange in director Scott Derrickson’s visually stunning 2016 fantasy, in which he also provided the voice of the ruler of the Dark Dimension, Dormammu. Talk about being your own worst enemy.

Clancy Brown – Ray Schoonover (Daredevil, The Punisher), Surtur (Thor: Ragnarok)

Another actor who gave a memorable Marvel movie performance as a giant CGI villain is Clancy Brown, who was the voice of the Fire Demon, Surtur, in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok. That same year, the SpongeBob SquarePants star (also famous for voicing Superman nemesis, Lex Luthor in many animated DC titles) would reprise his Daredevil role as Major Schoovover on the short-lived spin-off, The Punisher.

Patton Oswalt – The Koenig Brothers (Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Pip The Troll (Eternals)

Comedian Patton Oswalt has lent his distinct voice to several comic book characters, including a troll named Pip in the mid-credits scene from Eternals in 2021. Before then, he would appear on several episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as four different characters: identical quintuplets Sam, Eric, Billy, and Thurston Koenig, making him the current record holder for the most MCU-canon characters portrayed by one person.

Enver Gjokaj - Young Cop (The Avengers), Daniel Sousa (Agent Carter, Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.)

One example of an actor who debuted in the MCU with something small before re-emerging with something much bigger is Enver Gjokaj. He played an unnamed police officer in 2012’s The Avengers before starring on Agent Carter and the final season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as World War II soldier-turned-strategic operative, Daniel Sousa.

Gemma Chan – Minn-Erva (Captain Marvel), Sersi (Eternals)

Outside of those who played two characters in the same movie, English actor Gemma Chan has one of the smallest windows of time between her first MCU character and her second. In 2019, she donned blue makeup to play Kree Imperial warrior Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel and, in literally the same year, was announced as part of the Eternals cast in the role of Sersi.

Alfre Woodard – Miriam Sharpe (Captain America: Civil War), Black Mariah (Luke Cage)

Someone who can top Gemma Chan’s record in time between her characters’ official appearances is Alfre Woodard. The Academy Award nominee appeared in one memorable scene from 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, opposite Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, as Miriam Sharpe — a woman grieving the unseen death of her son during the final act of Avengers: Age of Ultron. That same year, just months later, she debuted on Luke Cage as Mariah “Black Mariah” Dillard, whose cousin is Harlem crime boss Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes.

Mahershala Ali – Cottonmouth (Luke Cage), Blade (Eternals)

Speaking of Cottonmouth, the crime boss on Luke Cage would turn out to be only the beginning of Mahershala Ali’s legacy in the MCU. While the two-time Academy Award winner’s new take on vampire-hunter Blade has yet to be seen, he debuted the character in a vocal cameo from Eternals’ post-credit scene. 

Chris Hemsworth – Thor, One Of Hajo’s Three Heads (Thor: Ragnarok)

It is hard to imagine a Marvel character better suited for Chris Hemsworth to play than the God of Thunder, but, believe it or not, the title hero of Thor: Ragnarok is not his only role from the funny 2017 blockbuster. Only eagle-eyed fans noticed that the Australian actor also played one of the three heads of Hajo — a gladiator from Sakaar who tried to help save Asgard from Hela (Cate Blanchett).

Taika Waititi – Korg, One Of Hajo’s Three Heads (Thor: Ragnarok)

Actually, Hemsworth is not the only well-known star of Thor: Ragnarok to share the role of Hajo. The film’s own director, Taika Waititi, also appeared as one of the gladiator’s three heads, in addition to providing the voice of fan-favorite, rock-skinned alien, Korg, and in the same frame, too!

I am not sure if there is or could ever be a weirder example of the MCU’s double-dipping phenomenon than those last two. However, I would love to see a challenger step up to the plate someday. Of course, considering the franchise is now in a stage known as “The Multiverse Saga,” it seems like it is a distinct possibility. 

There are some exciting characters that are set to take center stage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe moving forward, and one that has fans particularly hyped is a certain vampire hunter. I’m, of course, talking about the one and only Blade, who will be played by Oscar winner Mahershala Ali when he returns to the big screen. While fans are hyped to see this new iteration of the character, there’s still plenty of love for Wesley Snipes’ OG version of the hero. Snipes, for his part, also has a lot of affection for his superhero role and, amid the hype for the reboot, he’s revealed one of the ways in which he’d taken steps to get a fourth movie in his franchise made. 

It’s no secret that Wesley Snipes was all for Blade 4, as the actor has been steadily discussing the proposed project since the third installment hit theaters in 2004. Even with the multiverse now playing a major role in the cinematic landscape, the chances of said movie happening seem slim at this point. Over the years, said production seemed to experience its share of starts and stops. But based on new comments from the actor, he and his collaborators were prepared for such a thing to happen, as they apparently had two potential screenplays in their possession:

One can’t help but wonder how either of those two “killers” that the star mentioned to ComicBook.com would’ve pushed the Daywalker’s story forward. Given the unique mythology of the Marvel character, there are a number of different stories the writers could’ve told with the fanged protagonist. We’ll likely never know, but it is fun to think about.

Though he’d love to take on the role of Blade himself again, Wesley Snipes has been incredibly supportive of Mahershala Ali, as he prepares for his MCU debut. Snipes has proven to be a true class act whenever he’s asked his thoughts about the actor taking on the iconic role. When he initially responded to the reboot, he congratulated Ali and wished the team at Marvel Studios well. He’s also since given some advice to his successor, telling him to make sure that he’s in shape for the part. (Those are definitely some fine words of wisdom).

As for the upcoming Marvel movie itself, Marvel has yet to announce an official release date, though that could change in a few weeks when San Diego Comic-Con arrives. The movie took a major step forward last year when Mogul Mowgli’s Bassam Tariq was tapped to helm it. He’ll direct from a script written by Lovecraft County alum Stacy Osei-Kuffour. The superhero movie also won’t be R-rated, something that the OG leading is fine with.

Though Wesley Snipes’ two Blade scripts will likely never see the light of day, maybe the star can still get involved with the new franchise. He did, after all, make it known that he’d like Marvel to give him a role. Whether that happens remains to be seen, though one would think that Marvel Studios has at least considered it. 

Be sure that you’re keeping up with all of the updates regarding the MCU’s Blade movie. And if you’re feeling nostalgic for the original trilogy, you can stream the movies with an HBO Max subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's reboot of Blade has been one of the most anticipated upcoming Marvel movies for years. Since it was announced, many other great superhero movies have been greenlit and released and quite a few new Marvel TV shows became available to stream with a Disney+ subscription but the big screen return of the comic book medium's most iconic vampire hunter remains unseen.

For any Daywalkers who feel like they have been waiting a vampire’s lifespan for this upcoming superhero movie and wonder what is taking two-time Academy Award winner (and one-time rap artist) Mahershala Ali and others involved so long, we may be able to help answer some questions. The following is everything that we know about the new Blade movie so far.

What Is The Blade Release Date?

As of October 2024, there is no official release date set for Blade. According to Deadline, Disney removed the comic book film from the upcoming 2025 movie schedule for an indefinite delay. However, Kevin Feige later told Omelette at D23 Brazil that Marvel Studios is still committed to bringing the character to the MCU.

What Blade Is About

According to a feature by THR, Blade was, at one point, going to be a period piece in which demon sorcerer Lilith goes after Blade's daughter before this was scrapped in favor of a modern adventure. In other words, we do not actually know what it is going to be about. Regardless, the upcoming horror movie will likely involve the title character hunting vampires — not just based on his previous films, but also his history in Marvel comics.

Created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, Blade (née Eric Brooks) is a human born with vampiric abilities as a result of Dr. Deacon Frost feasting on his mother as she gave birth to him. Readers first got a taste of his expertise when he took on the most famous creature of the night 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.

The Blade Cast Stars Mahershala Ali As The Title Anti-Hero

While many fans of the original trilogy would have loved to see Wesley Snipes reprise the Daywalker (which he finally did with a cross-dimensional cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine), 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)

The SDCC 2019 announcement of Blade came with the reveal that Mahershala Ali, who also pitched the reboot despite previously playing another MCU character (Luke Cage's "Cottonmouth"), would inherit the title role from Wesley Snipes (and Sticky Fingaz, who starred in the short-lived TV series). However, some people, namely ScreenRant's Felipe Rangel, are convinced the Passenger 57 actor could reprise the role in the MCU before Ali makes his debut.

Of course, the Oscar winner, technically, already debuted as the vampire hunter with a vocal cameo in an Eternals post-credits scene. His next major release will be the upcoming Jurassic World: Rebirth with Scarlett Johansson.

Mia Goth

In April 2023, Mia Goth was added to the Blade cast after previously scaring audiences in acclaimed A24 horror movies X and Pearl among others. We have no word on who she is confirmed to be playing but we have a few ideas of what Marvel characters Goth could play. At the premiere of her recent A24 movie, MaXXXine, the actor (who also has a role in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein movie) assured Deadline that the makers of Blade "really care, they do. They want to make a great movie. That’s the sense that I get from them and that feels good.”

What Will Blade Be Rated?

Around the release of the MCU's first R-rated movie, Deadpool & Wolverine, Kevin Feige confirmed that Blade is being developed with the intent of earning the same rating when speaking to ComingSoon. This is exciting news, 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.

Blade Currently Has No Director

In June 2024, The Wrap reported that Yann Demange — the second person hired to direct Blade after replacing Bassam Tariq — exited the project. However, according to Deadline, Tariq is currently collaborating with Ali on a film called Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. A rumor (via SuperheroHype) suggests that Marvel is actively looking for another filmmaker to take over Blade.

According to a THR feature about Blade's development hell from 2024, screenwriter Michael Green, known for collaborating on Logan's Oscar-nominated screenplay, was out, too, and it Eric Pearson — who practically specialized in finalizing Marvel movie scripts — was supposed to be working on the latest draft. People previously hired to write the reboot also include Emmy nominee Stacy Osei-Kuffour of HBO's Watchmen fame, X-Men '97 creator Beau DeMayo, True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto, When They See Us writer Michael Starrbury.

How To Watch The Original Blade Movies

Following that Deadpool & Wolverine cameo, Wesley Snipes' version of Blade is the only version of the vampire hunter we have in the MCU for now. As we wait for Ali's version of the Daywalker to make his official entrance, fans and fans-to-be can see Snipes in action again by watching the original Blade movies. You can even keep the vampire-hunting adventure going by giving the Sticky Fingaz-led spin-off series a try.

Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan (whose own vampire movie called Sinners was a critical and commercial hit), told GQ in February 2025 that he can't wait to see the Blade movie. Unfortunately, the actor is going to have to wait as long as the rest of us will, which is anybody's guess at this point. On the bright side, fans have more than enough time to rewatch the Marvel movies in order and the Blade movie before the MCU finally brings its new Daywalker into the light.

With Oscar nominations right around the corner, CinemaBlend is taking a look at which films and performances are likely to be in contention for nominations. Let’s look at a the Lead Actor race. 

Locked In

Benedict Cumberbatch's deeply layered, tortured performance in The Power of the Dog is earning him the best reviews of his career. His film is also one of the biggest all-around contenders of the year, making him an absolute lock that you could rest easy betting your house on.

With a Golden Globe win under his belt for King Richard, Will Smith stands as a top contender in the category. His portrayal of Richard Williams is charming, funny, and heartfelt. It’s the kind of transformative leading role from an A list star that the Oscars can’t possibly pass up on.

Also carrying an emotionally heavy biopic is Andrew Garfield who will easily sing his way to a nomination for his portrayal of musical-theatre icon Jonathan Larsen in Tick, tick… Boom! His energetic, endearing performance is winning over critics and audiences alike, and it doesn’t hurt that Garfield is having an incredible year with appearances in The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Spider-Man: No Way Home

Denzel Washington is eyeing his 9th acting nomination for The Tragedy of Macbeth. Though the film is iffy as a Best Picture candidate, Washington’s towering performance will be impossible to ignore, especially since he’s an Academy favorite. 

Likely Bets

The four aforementioned actors were all nominated at SAG, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice, meaning there may only be one slot up for grabs. Javier Bardem’s performance as Desi Arnaz in Being the Ricardos. Despite controversy over his casting and having been largely ignored by critics groups, the actor secured a couple major industry award nominations at the Golden Globe and SAG awards. This makes the three-time nominee a strong candidate for the fifth slot. 

Peter Dinklage took a hit when he missed the SAG nomination, despite being a winner and previous nominee for Game of Thrones and The Station Agent, respectively. The film’s momentum has died a bit, with the studio delaying the release until after nominations. But Dinklage is a well respected actor, and many may feel it’s his time. This category hasn’t seen a lineup without a first-time nominee in 41 years, and Dinklage could keep that stat going.

Dark Horses

The past three Leonardo DiCaprio films nominated for best picture were coupled with a lead actor nomination for the actor. Don’t Look Up might break this streak, as it has failed to gain traction for any of its individual cast members at precursors. We can’t overlook the possibility of a surprise, but if Leo couldn’t get a SAG nomination, I don’t see how he can get the Oscar nomination.

I don’t see anyone else as having much of a chance, but perhaps Nicolas Cage in Pig, or Mahershala Ali in Swan Song could pull off a surprise.

Check back here at CinemaBlend for more category breakdowns including Adapted Screenplay, Original Screenplay, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress.

Learning about the study of actors, and/or listening to professionals talking about the craft, one common lesson you’ll come across is that “acting is reacting.” It’s an emphasis on the idea that a performance isn’t just about delivering lines, but also finding a proper emotional response to what’s happening to a character in a given scene. Of course, there are instances where this is particularly difficult – such as when making a movie with extensive use of green screen, or when playing two separate roles that regularly interact in a story.

In the making of writer/director Benjamin Cleary’s Swan Song, Mahershala Ali found himself facing the latter challenge in a fascinating way, as the movie sees him star as two versions of the same person, albeit separated by extremely distant perspectives. Ultimately the material provides opportunity for the Academy Award-winning actor to deliver some of the best work of his career, and during a recent interview he dug into the process that created the performances.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Mahershala Ali last month during the virtual press day for Swan Song – which is now available to stream on Apple TV+ – and my first question of the interview was about what it was like for the actor to have Mahershala Ali as a co-star. He laughed, giving himself a modest appraisal, but more seriously gave great praise to his collaborators, specifically his double Shane Dean and Benjamin Cleary. Said Ali,

The feature directorial debut of Benjamin Cleary, Swan Song is set in a not-too-distant future where a man named Cameron Turner (Mahershala Ali) finds himself provided with a fascinating option following the reception of a terminal medical diagnosis. With his condition inoperable, he is informed about a brand new technology that will allow him to be cloned and replaced – the most important thing being that nobody among his family or friends, including his wife (Naomi Harris) is notified of the switch. In preparation for this, Cameron has to spend time with his copy, temporarily named Jack (Mahershala Ali), so that final calibrations can be made and he can be fully prepared for the substitution.

Cameron and Jack are biologically and mentally identical, but the key way in which they are different is that Cameron is preparing for the end of his life, and Jack is preparing to experience a weird kind of second chance. This is obviously more than significant enough to impact their individual emotional responses, but Mahershala Ali was in a position where he had Shane Dean able to mirror his own performance back to him when playing the other side of a given scene. When it came time to see the material edited and matched, he was impressed with the results:

The results are fascinating – if not especially because Swan Song is most definitely not the movie that you think it is even as it unfolds. It’s a wonderful sci-fi concept that is beautifully executed, and a film that you should make concentrated efforts not to miss.

Co-starring Awkwafina, Glenn Close, Ayasha Hatendi, and Adam Beach, Swan Song is now available to stream on Apple TV+. And if you can’t get enough of Mahershala Ali, check out our guide to his movies and television appearances that you may have missed.

Sharing the Blade mantle brought Mahershala Ali and Wesley Snipes together. Of course, most Marvel fans would love to see the two stars play the vigilante half-vampire at the same time. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be in the cards for now. That hasn’t stopped Snipes from shouting and blessing Ali as he becomes the MCU’s Blade. After hearing about the True Story star’s blessing, the Ali broke down what Snipes’ words meant to him.

Most Marvel fans have already witnessed the lovefest play out online. Unlike what fans expected to play, Mahershala Ali and Wesley Snipes have remained friendly. After months of back-and-forth praise and compliments, the Moonlight star spoke with The Breakfast Club about his feelings on the Coming 2 America star’s words.

That is how you handle taking over a role so beloved and associated with another actor. Mahershala Ali could’ve gone about his business without recognizing Wesley Snipes’ words. But he was so grateful to Snipes for giving his blessing as Ali begins his Blade journey. When looking at how Ali became the Marvel vampire hunter, the Dolemite is My Name star could’ve been bitter and disparaged the actor, but he didn’t. So it’s nice to know the two stars have nothing but mutual respect.

Understandably, Mahershala Ali would be gracious for Snipes’ blessing. Wesley Snipes has been no slouch in the praise department. The Blade vet revealed he felt Ali would “do great” as the beloved character. Having played the character for years, Snipes spoke on how physically demanding being Blade can be before offering advice to the Hidden Figures star.

While the Green Book star loved taking up the Blade mantle, there’s still speculation Wesley Snipes might pop up in the MCU. Ali was asked by the morning show if whether the Cut Throat City star will reprise his role. Of course, in typical Marvel fashion, Mahershala Ali didn’t confirm nor deny if Snipes could come back. Given Phase Four is going for the multiverse angle, it wouldn’t be too farfetched to see both stars share the screen. But viewers wouldn’t know until a mid-credit or end-credit scene comes up in an upcoming MCU film.

Mahershala Ali has multiple projects in the pipeline before he officially becomes Blade. Snipes is currently riding high on the success of Netflix’s True Story. It remains to be seen if Marvel’s multiverse brings the two stars together in some insane twist. Until then, audiences will have to wait to see Ali’s take on the beloved character with production expected to start July 2022.

Although Blade has existed in Marvel Comics lore since 1973, it was Wesley Snipes’ cinematic run as the character from 1998 to 2004 that catapulted the Daywalker to worldwide fame. Now it’s Mahershala Ali’s turn to put his own spin on Blade, as it was announced back in 2019 that that vampire hunter also known as Eric Brooks is being rebooted for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That said, Ali still feels like he needs to earn this role from Snipes.

The actor shared this while speaking with Reelblend cohost Jake Hamilton on Jake’s Takes about his Apple TV+ movie Swan Song. When asked by Hamilton what he looks forward to exploring in the Blade character and how it’ll differ from Wesley Snipes’ “interpretation,” Mahershala Ali responded:

The first Blade movie came out in 1998, two years before X-Men and four years before Spider-Man. Granted, unlike Marvel’s mutants and Web-Slinger, Blade wasn’t widely known as a comic book character back then, but the movie nevertheless played an integral in turning the superhero genre into a Hollywood mainstay. So naturally there will be people curious about how Mahershala Ali’s version compares to Wesley Snipes’, but from the former’s perspective, he just wants the opportunity to honor what the latter has done with the role, whilst simultaneously bringing something new to a character who hasn’t been on the big screen in nearly 20 years. It’s understandable why Ali is itching to tackle this role, especially taking into account he was the one who pitched a Blade reboot to Marvel Studios.

Warning: SPOILERS for Eternals are ahead!

There still hasn’t been a timetable set on when we’ll get our first look at Mahershala Ali’s Blade, but we recently heard him in the MCU. Eternals’ post-credits scene saw Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman reach for the Ebony Blade that’s been in his family for centuries, but before he gripped the sword’s handle, Eric Brooks asked off screen if Dane’s truly ready for that. It’s unclear at this point if Harington will reprise Dane (known in Marvel Comics lore as The Black Knight) in the Blade reboot, but now some groundwork’s been laid for Blade’s full MCU introduction down the line.

Marvel’s Blade reboot will be directed by Mogul Mowgli’s Bassam Tariq and written by Watchmen’s Stacy Osei-Kuffour. Along with Mahershala Ali playing the title role, it was reported earlier this month that Delroy Lindo has been added to the cast, though his character hasn’t been identified yet. Filming is expected to begin in summer 2022, but there’s no word yet on the project’s release date.

While we wait for more news about Blade, you can watch Mahershala Ali in Swan Song when it premieres December 17 on Apple TV+. Our upcoming Marvel movies guide is also available for those of you curious about what else the MCU has lined up for theatrical presentation.

With the Infinity Saga in the rear view, Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is introducing a ton of new characters to help fill out the ranks. One of the highly anticipated heroes finally joining the franchise is the vampire hero Blade. OG Blade Wesley Snipes recently revealed what he thinks will decide the reboot’s success…. and it’s not Maheshala Ali.

Not much is known about the MCU’s developing Blade movie, and fans were thrilled to learn that Oscar winner Mahershala Ali would be playing the role. He’s got some big shoes to fill given Wesley Snipes’ iconic performance in his own trilogy. Snipes previously threw his support behind the Moonlight actor, and has now addressed who will decide the movie’s success: the fans. As he put it,

He’s got a point. The original Blade movie came before superhero movies were a popular genre, and scenes like the blood rave definitely elicited a strong reaction from audiences. That reaction led to a full trilogy ultimately being built around Wesley Snipes’ vampiric hero.

Wesley Snipes’ comments to ET Online shows how the iconic actor has continued to be a class act regarding the upcoming Blade reboot. While he understandably has some ownership over the Marvel hero, he seems to have a great attitude about the new version heading to theaters. And fans can’t wait to see how vampires will factor into the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe.

While Mahershala Ali has some big shoes to fill as Marvel’s Blade, his career and filmography truly speak for themselve. Ali is a massively acclaimed actor whose work has two Oscars under his belt. It just the type of A-listers that the MCU tends to attract these days.

Funny enough, Mahershala Ali actually already appeared in the MCU-- although it was on the small screen. He played the villainous Cottonmouth in Season 1 of Netflix’s Luke Cage. But this time he’s playing another character, and will factor into the big screen adventures of the franchise.

While Marvel fans will continue waiting for the Blade movie, Mahershala Ali technically already made his debut as the character formerly occupied by Wesley Snipes. Ali’s voice was briefly heard in the end-credits scene of Eternals, speaking to Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman. It remains to be seen how these two characters might interact in the future.

Eternals is in theaters now and Blade is currently expected to arrive sometime during Phase Four. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Mahershala Ali has been preparing to take on Blade in his first MCU outing. While many fans were excited about Ali’s casting, some felt a little sour that original star Wesley Snipes passed over for the chance to join the MCU. Some viewers might expect the two actors to have some beef over the role, but it’s been quite the opposite. Snipes even went on as far as to give some advice to Ali about playing the iconic Marvel character.

Since Ali was announced to join the MCU, Wesley Snipes has done nothing but praise the two-time Oscar winner. He’s even lent his support to Mahershala Ali on and off social media. Snipes once again showed his support for the Blade star in a recent Yahoo! interview. Of course, playing Blade comes with some physical demands for the actor. The True Story star offered the Swan Song star some sage advice about keeping fit and safe.

Hopefully, Mahershala Ali will take Wesley Snipes’ advice to heart. Having starred in three Blade films, Snipes knows how demanding it is to play the Marvel icon could be. The Coming 2 America star reinforced his support for Ali by stating he was “cool” with Marvel’s decision. He referred to the studio’s decision as a business move. Snipes mentioned having no attachment to the character before congratulating the Oscar winner.

Mahershala Ali may find some relief in Wesley Snipes having in his corner. Ali might have felt the pressure stepping into Snipes’ shoes as he popped up in a surprise cameo in Eternals. The voice cameo marked Ali’s MCU debut. With the ensemble film being his debut, the Oscar winner faced tremendous anxiety surrounding his end-credit moment. Despite his nervousness, incorporating the vampire icon into the MCU has been long overdue.  

While Wesley Snipes won’t be involved, the original film’s legacy has been recognized by Marvel. The Blade reboot’s director revealed Marvel is focusing more on the character rather than his relation to other MCU characters. It is currently unknown what genre or comic storyline the film will borrow from.

Right now, not much is known about the reboot other than Mahershala Ali has been joined by The Harder They Fall’s Delroy Lindo. The film is expected to start production in July 2022 with no release date set for the Blade reboot. If you want to see what else is coming in Phase Four, check out our guides to every upcoming Marvel movie and television series.

At 2019’s San Diego Comic-Con, not only was it revealed that a Blade reboot is in development for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we also learned that Mahershala Ali would succeed Wesley Snipes as the silver screen Daywalker. While the new Blade movie has been taking big steps forward this year, there hadn’t been any casting updates… until today. Word’s come in that The Harder They Fall actor Delroy Lindo is being lined up to join Ali for the MCU flick.

According to THR, Delroy Lindo is in final negotiations to join the Blade reboot, though no details were provided on the character he’d be playing. Should all the paperwork be signed, this would make Lindo’s first comic book movie, though not his first time working in the comic book media space. He was previously set to star as Dominic Fortune in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff Marvel’s Most Wanted, but after the pilot was shot, ABC decided to pass on a series pick-up. Suffice it to say that Blade is much bigger Marvel-related platform for him to shine on.

Delroy Lindo can currently be seen playing Bass Reeves in the Revisionist Western The Harder They Fall, his second Netflix movie following Da 5 Bloods. That 2020 movie marked Lindo’s fourth collaboration with director Spike Lee, with the two having previously teamed up on Malcolm X, Crooklyn and Clockers. Lindo has also kept busy in recent years playing Adrian Boseman in The Good Fight, serving as a series regular in its first four seasons and guest-starring in Season 5.

It’s hard to say at this point who Delroy Lindo could be playing in the Blade reboot, although a logical guess would be the mentor to the title character. When Blade first appeared in the comics, this position belonged to Jamal Afari, who was Harlem’s vampire slayer and taught Eric Brooks how to kill these monsters. The Wesley Snipes-led Blade movies, however, decided to fill the mentor role with a white character named Abraham Whistler, who’d previously shown up on Spider-Man: The Animated Series and was played on the big screen by Kris Kristofferson. If Lindo is starring in the reboot as a mentor to Mahershala Ali’s Eric Brooks, it’s unclear if he’d be Jamal or a Black version of Abraham.

There’s also the possibility that Delroy Lindo could star in Blade as a villain, but either way, it’ll likely a while until his role is revealed to the public. Behind the scenes, Mogul Mowgli’s Bassam Tariq is directing the reboot and the Watchmen TV series’ Stacy Osei-Kuffour is writing the script. The new Blade movie is reportedly expected to begin filming in late summer 2022, but there was a little groundwork laid for the character recently.

We’ll keep you apprised of more Blade updates as they trickle in, but for now, catch up on past MCU flicks over on Disney+ and learn what else the superhero franchise has in the works with our upcoming Marvel movies guide.

Major spoilers for Marvel Studios’ Eternals lie ahead.

Following years of anticipation, Blade is finally set to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Of course, this iteration of the Daywalker is set to be played by Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, which has plenty of fans excited. Despite this, many still hold a special place for Wesley Snipes’ iteration of the comic book hero. As a result, the superhero-loving public is always curious to get his thoughts on the reboot and its lead. So far, Snipes has been nothing but classy about the upcoming movie, and he recently continued this trend with a sweet post. 

Having played the vampire hunter in a film trilogy, Wesley Snipes truly defined the character for a generation. And while many are excited to see what the Moonlight star will bring to the table, there are others who believe he’s going to have a hard time topping Snipes. The 59-year-old actor himself feels optimistic about his successor’s chances, though. He said as much in a recent Twitter post, in which he retweeted a fan’s comment. Check it out for yourself down below: 

The Hollywood legend has spoken, and I’m definitely tempted to agree with him. Those who’ve seen Mahershala Ali in action know that he’s one of the finest actors working today. He has the commanding presence needed to play a character like Blade as well as the cool demeanor that’s been associated with the hero. What’s most impressive about Ali is that he’s an actor who knows how to use his eyes, which is essential, as the half-vampire really knows how to stare down his enemies.

As mentioned, this isn’t the first time Wesley Snipes has shared positive thoughts about the project. Snipes was originally asked about the Marvel Studios casting back in the fall of 2019, during which he gave a diplomatic answer that praised the legacy of the character. He later commended the studio for the job it’s doing on the film. Still, based on some of his other reactions, the actor still takes great pride in being the first person to play the titular character. 

Mahershala Ali and Marvel Studios, for their part, have also shown respect to the man that started it all. Ali actually mentioned that he has a somewhat funny “connection” to his predecessor, as his people apparently used to tell him that he looked like the White Men Can’t Jump star. Bassam Tariq, who is helming the upcoming reboot, has also spoken about the original franchise’s impact on his big-screen take.

As of right now, the Daywalker’s solo MCU film is still in the early stages of production. In addition to landing its star and director, it also has a screenwriter in Watchmen alum Stacy Osei-Kuffour. Though the project has the tools to succeed, there’s naturally still some anxiousness on Mahershala Ali’s part. The star recently made his debut through a vocal cameo during the post-credits scene of Eternals, which he says was a daunting experience. Still, he’s excited about actually playing the character on screen in the near future. 

Hopefully, this new take on Blade will be well worth the wait and, as mentioned, there are plenty of reasons to be confident. It’ll be interesting to hear Wesley Snipes’ thoughts on it and, who knows, maybe he’ll get that cameo fans have been clamoring for. 

1998’s original Blade film is currently available to stream on HBO Max, in case you’d like to check out Wesley Snipes’ performance.

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Eternals are ahead!

At 2019’s San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that Mahershala Ali would succeed Wesley Snipes as the cinematic Blade, and over the course of 2021, we’ve gotten some big updates concerning the development of the Daywalker’s Marvel Cinematic Universe reboot. However, Eternals came with a cool surprise at the very end: Ali’s official debut as Blade in the MCU… vocally, that is. A week after Eternals’ wide opening, the Moonlight star has talked about the anxieties he felt voicing the character for the first time.

Although Mahershala Ali described the experience of recording his first Blade lines as “really cool,” he also acknowledged that he felt a lot of pressure with getting those lines just right in his mind. The actor explained:

Mahershala Ali added in his interview with Empire that this quick vocal outing as Blade in Eternals “felt special and really cool,” and he’s “excited to get going and do more.” When exactly that will happen is unclear, as the Blade reboot doesn’t have a release date yet, though the actor teased they’re “getting close.” Still, the vampire hunter means a lot to Ali, especially considering he pitched the idea of rebooting Blade directly to Marvel Studios shortly after winning an Academy Award for his performance in Green Book. At the very least, Eternals has tied Ali’s Blade to another Marvel character who looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

Following Eternals’ mid-credits scene, which showed Harry Styles’ Eros of Titan (a.k.a. Starfox) and Patton Oswalt’s Pip the Troll offering their assistance to Thena, Makkari and Druig, the movie’s post-credits scene reunited us with Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman, Sersi’s boyfriend who was about to share something about his family history with her in the main story before she was taken by the Celestial known as Arishem. In Eternals’ final minutes, Dane opened a chest containing the Ebony Blade that’s been in his family for generations, but before he touched the weapon, Mahershala Ali’s Blade, a.k.a. Eric Brooks, asked off camera if he was sure he wanted to do that. The stage is now set for Harington’s Dane to begin his Black Knight journey, although there’s no word of if he’ll appear in the Blade reboot.

While Mahershala Ali is still the only actor officially attached to the next Blade movie, its behind-the-scenes talent includes Watchmen’s Stacy Osei-Kuffour writing the script and Mogul Mowgli’s Bassam Tariq directing. Filming will reportedly begin in summer 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. This will be Ali’s third Marvel-related role, having previously played Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes in Luke Cage and voiced Aaron Davis/The Prowler in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

For now, you can catch Eternals in theaters and catch up on past MCU installments over on Disney+. Consult our upcoming Marvel movies guide to learn what other big-screen entries this superhero franchise has coming up besides Blade.

The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Marvel's Eternals.

Marvel's Eternals is now finally here, out in the wild for all to see. And there's a lot to see. It's a massive movie that has potentially huge implications for the future of Marvel Cinematic Universe storytelling. But there are so many heroes in the main film that some new members had to be introduced in the post-credits scenes, and one mysterious figure was only heard, but his identity has now been confirmed. 

If you've seen Eternals, and if you haven't I'm giving you one more spoiler warning, then you'll remember that the final scene shows Kit Harrington's Dane, after watching Sersi get taken, consider a crate. Inside the crate is a mysterious sword that Dane is less than sure about picking up. When he finally seems to decide to do so, he hears a voice asking him if he's sure he wants to do that. If you didn't recognize that voice, Eternals director Chloé Zhao has now confirmed it belonged to Blade. The daywalker has arrived in the MCU. She told Fandom...

It was announced at San Diego Comic-Con back in 2019 that Mahershala Ali would star in a new Blade project for Marvel Studios, but we've heard little about the details since then. It's happening, but the when and the how is a mystery. Now we have our first tease of where things are going.

When Kit Harrington was first confirmed to be joining Eternals we knew he'd be appearing as Dane Whitman, Marvel's Black Knight. As it turned out, that wasn't all that important to Eternals itself, it was just the means of introduction for the character. His fate lies elsewhere, apparently fighting alongside Blade.

If you were somewhat surprised to hear Mahershala Ali's voice in Eternals, it turns out that so was Kit Harrington. He says that he only discovered a couple of weeks ago just who it was that was talking to him in that scene...

The big question now, is just when will we see whatever follows from this scene? The Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting crowded. There are a lot more characters doing their thing, and with the next couple of years of the universe already laid out, it seems like it could be years before we actually get the payoff here. On the plus side, the scene does seem to imply Blade will be coming sooner rather than later. If Marvel Studios knows it wanted Blade in this scene, there must be at least the early stages of a plan for him. 

What would you do if you knew you were dying, but could spare your family the pain of your loss? Apple TV+’s Swan Song tries to answer that question, as Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali plays a man who, through the help of Glenn Close, gets cloned so that his family never has to miss him. The only problem is, he can never see his wife or child again, otherwise the whole process was all for nothing. 

Writer/director Benjamin Cleary looks to have put together a portrait of loss and sorrow in this Apple TV+ original. The concept is impressive on its own, but looking at the cast list on display in Swan Song’s trailer makes it all the more exciting. In addition to Mahershala Ali and Glenn Close, we also get to see actors Naomie Harris and Awkwafina helping piece together the concept of losing your family without ever having to say goodbye. 

Just when you thought Mahershala Ali was already an intense figure on screen, Swan Song sees the two time Academy Award winner turning his own intensity on himself. Wrestling with the fact that another version of him has taken his place in the family he’s trying to protect, this film isn’t a fantastical vision of cloning that engages in the usual paranoia. Instead, Benjamin Cleary’s spin on this sci-fi staple digs into dour, emotional consequences. 

For those of you who still aren’t over the emotional punch that Ali and his Moonlight co-star Naomie Harris delivered in their Best Picture winning collaboration, Swan Song looks like it’s going to be just as heavy. With Harris unknowingly caught in the middle between two different versions of Mahershala Ali’s character, it feels like the whole situation is building towards one gigantic catharsis towards the end of the film. Both actors could see themselves yet again nominated for acting accolades, and for the same film. 

Good science fiction can allow us to see the human condition a bit clearer through a fantastical lens. With Swan Song, grief and closure are seemingly in the balance, with the added complication of saying goodbye while you still can. As Apple TV+ is about to release the apocalyptic Tom Hanks road trip movie Finch onto its platform, it seems that this streamer may have found a niche for itself. 

Swan Song is headed to theaters, and Apple TV+, on December 17, 2021. But if you want to see what other movies are heading into the world throughout the rest of the year, 2021’s movie schedule is waiting out there. Which is a perfect escape from tearjerking sci-fi, should that not be the type of movie you’re currently in the mood for. Sadly, if you can’t wait for Mahershala Ali’s Blade, we’re still not sure when that film will be hitting theaters. But if you're a Naomie Harris fan, you can take a look at her latest and upcoming projects currently in release, or in the works.

It’s no secret that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an absolute behemoth in the entertainment industry. And as OG stars like Robert Downey Jr. depart from their role, a number of new heroes are being introduced. That includes the upcoming inclusion of Blade, played by Mahershala Ali. And the new Blade director recently explained why Wesley Snipes’ original version remains so important.

Wesley Snipes starred as the vampiric title character in a trilogy of Blade movies through the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. This tenure is especially impressive as it was before Marvel movies became so popular. Director Bassam Tariq spoke to the legacy of Snipes’ movies, as he put it:

Well, there you have it. While Wesley Snipes has been open about his continued connection with the character Blade, it doesn’t look like he’s involved in the MCU’s take on the character. Still, Bassam Tariq understands how the movie is only possible through the strides of Snipes during his original trilogy.

Bassam Tariq’s comments to IndieWire show how passionately the filmmaker feels about his upcoming MCU, and the role Blade has had in popular culture as a whole. Marvel fans have been holding out hope to see the vampire hero join the MCU, and now that time is nearly upon us. And Tariq wants to make sure that he’s honoring Black talent both in front and behind the camera. That includes the groundbreaking work previously done by Wesley Snipes.

Exactly what Bassam Tariq, Mahershala Ali, and company are planning for the upcoming Blade movie is unclear, but it’s thrilling to learn that he’ll be occupying the same cinematic universe as the Avengers and Guardians. There's no telling how he might interact with those heroes, especially since Blade is typically a bit more violent than the PG-13 MCU adventures we’ve seen on the big screen.

Phase Four is already introducing some very high concepts, including a liberal use of the multiverse. And while magic is being used more and more, vampires are a new concept for Bassam Tariq to introduce. We’ll just have to wait and see how bloody this property ends up being. I doubt there’s going to be a blood rave ala Wesley Snipes’ Blade.

The MCU’s Blade doesn’t currently have a release date but it’s expected to arrive within Phase Four. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Some Marvel fans have been skating uphill ever since the Mahershala Ali reboot of Blade has been announced. Questions about how this film will fit in a PG-13 context, as well as when we’ll actually get to see it, are all running rampant on the internet, with no answers to be seen just yet. Though that's kind of changed at the moment, as the answer to that second question has seemingly appeared from an official Marvel source. So, does this mean that Blade’s release date accidentally get revealed? 

Marvel India posted the rundown of films that are in the Marvel Cinematic Universe pipeline for the next year. We absolutely already knew the dates for some of these films, like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and bringing up the edge of the known 2022 release schedule, The Marvels. However, in the graphic shown below, Marvel India has Blade staked out to open hunting season on all suckheads as of October 7, 2022: 

Earlier this year, Marvel Studios gave the world a big MCU clip reel laying out their release slate for the near future. In the calendar that reached as far out as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s May 5, 2023 premiere, several high profile projects were missing. And as you could guess, Blade was one of them, which isn’t all that surprising when you look at what we’d heard previously about the project’s progress.

Another update from 2021 saw Watchmen writer/story editor Stacy Osei-Kuffour hired to write Blade’s screenplay. But the more pressing piece of information revealed in that update was the fact that the original September 2021 production start date was pushed all the way into July 2022. Should this still be the case, an October 7, 2022 release date, or any release date in 2022 for that matter, feels unlikely. Unless Marvel Studios is taking a quick and low budget approach to their latest blockbuster tentpole. 

This just makes us more curious about how or why this Blade release information is out in the open. There’s a possibility that this could be the originally slated date, under the September 2021 production start. So someone may have had outdated information and/or was a little too eager to make headlines, and ran with what they had. Or maybe, just maybe, Blade found a way to get into production only slightly later than scheduled, allowing Mahershala Ali to step into his Daywalker persona as we speak.

At the moment, Marvel Studios hasn’t announced the Blade release date officially, so there’s always the potential this news will be retracted by the studio. But if this announcement is correct, Mahershala Ali’s big MCU debut could happen next October. Either way, the 2022 release schedule will be updated to reflect whatever the official studio news may reflect; so be sure to check back frequently.

In the immediate years before the X-Men and Spider-Man finally made their film debuts, Marvel superhero Blade got the chance to shine on the silver screen, with Wesley Snipes bringing the Daywalker to life, and then reprising the role for two more movies. Fast-forwarded to the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that Blade will be rebooted for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this time with Green Book’s and Alita: Battle Angel’s Mahershala Ali playing the role. Now David S. Goyer, the director and writer 2004’s Blade: Trinity, has shared his thoughts on the vampire hunter soon becoming an important player in the MCU.

While promoting his new Apple TV+ series Foundation to Comic Book Resources, David Goyer shared that he’s “thrilled” that a new Blade movie is on the way, as he knows full well that the comic book medium’s ability to present different versions of the same character can also easily be applied to depictions of said character in a cinematic setting. As Goyer explained:

The original Blade trilogy is a big part of David Goyer’s career, as in addition to writing all three movies, he executive produced the latter two and, as previously mentioned, sat in the director’s chair for Trinity. Granted, the threequel ended up being a rough experience for all involved, to the point that Patton Oswalt once claimed that Wesley Snipes tried to strangle Goyer during production. But looking at the big picture, Goyer played an integral role in both popularizing Blade for the general public and helping the superhero genre become a bigger deal in Hollywood.

Now with nearly 20 years having passed since Blade: Trinity’s release, David Goyer is looking forward to seeing Mahershala Ali succeed Wesley Snipes as the cinematic Blade, and he’ll gladly buy a ticket for the MCU reboot. Of course, Blade isn’t Goyer’s only foray into comic book movies, with his other credits in that arena including Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. Additionally, he developed the short-lived Syfy series Krypton and is one of the executive producers on Netflix’s upcoming The Sandman series.

Marvel Studios is keeping mum on what we can expect from the Blade reboot’s story, and Mahershala Ali is still the only actor who’s publicly attached. Behind the scenes though, Watchmen’s Stacy Osei-Kuffour was hired in February to write the script, and earlier this month, it was announced that Mogul Mowgli’s Bassam Tariq will direct the movie. Blade is reportedly expected to begin filming in July 2022.

Learn what else the MCU has primed for theatrical release with our upcoming Marvel movies guide, and for those of you interested in David Goyer’s work, the first two episodes of Foundation premiere on Apple TV+ tomorrow, September 24.

Marvel Studios packed a lot of big announcements into its panel at 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, including that a Blade reboot starring True Detective’s Mahershala Ali was in development. While we’re still a ways off from seeing Ali’s take on Eric Brooks enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was reported in July that Mogul Mowgli director Bassam Tariq had been hired to helm Blade. Now Tariq has not only confirmed this is true, he’s also provided some insight on what we can expect from this version of the vampire hunter.

Although the first Wesley Snipes-led Blade movie preceded the first X-Men movie by two years, one couldn’t have been faulted for not knowing this was based on a comic book property not only because of the relative obscurity of the character at the time, but because it felt more at home in the horror genre. As such, Bassam Tariq was asked during his appearance on The Playlist Podcast whether Marvel’s Blade reboot would feel more like a horror movie or a traditional MCU entry. Here’s what he had to say:

Although Wesley Snipes unquestionably boosted Blade’s popularity thanks to the three movies released in 1998 and 2004, Bassam Tariq is correct that as far as the character’s comic book roots go, there’s definitely much less to work with compared to a more well-known Marvel superhero like Spider-Man or The Hulk. So in that regard, it sounds like Tariq, screenwriter Stacy Osei-Kuffour and the rest of the creative team have more room to leave their own distinct mark on Blade for the MCU, although we’ll obviously still see him slicing up vampires as the Daywalker.

Bassam Tariq also mentioned in the interview that he’s “honored” that he was selected to direct the Blade reboot, and that he considers himself in service to Stacy Osei-Kuffour, whose writing credits include HBO’s Watchmen and Hulu’s Pen15. Osei-Kuffour was revealed to be writing Blade back in February, and while Tariq wouldn’t share any information about the reboot’s plot details, it sounds like he’s impressed with what she’s written. As a side note, I’d actually be alright with Mahershala Ali’s Blade being truly named Fred H. Blade.

Blade doesn’t have an assigned release date yet, but filming will reportedly begin in July 2022. We’ll keep you apprised on its progress as more updates come in, but in the meantime, look through our upcoming Marvel movies guide to discover what else this superhero franchise is sending to the big screen.

As Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe presses on, the massive film and TV franchise continues to add new characters. Fan-favorite vampire hunter Blade is one of the major players fans will be able to see in the coming years, and the prospect of the character making his big-screen return is exciting. While Mahershala Ali has been cast in the lead role, news of developments behind the scenes of the project have been few and far between. But now, the film appears to have taken a massive step forward, as it’s reportedly hired a director to take the reins. So with that, let’s bring on the blood!

Marvel Studios has reportedly tapped Bassam Tariq to direct Blade. Deadline reports that before Tariq was tapped, Mahershala Ali and studio head Kevin Feige had been interviewing candidates since last fall. Per the trade, Tariq’s hiring isn’t a done deal just yet and, as expected, Marvel has not commented on the matter.

Bassam Tariq is best known for his work on Mogul Mowgli, a critically acclaimed indie drama starring Riz Ahmed that was released last year in the United Kingdom but has yet to be distributed in North America. To some, this may seem like an unexpected hiring choice, but it actually lines up with what we know about the studio. Marvel has a knack for tapping indie filmmakers for its blockbusters, and this practice has proven to be quite successful. One need only look to Black Panther’s Ryan Coogler, Thor: Ragnarok’s Taika Waititi, or all of the work done by Joe and Anthony Russo for the franchise. None of them had prior experience making movies carrying $100 million-plus budgets, but the executives and filmmakers behind the world's most popular comic book movies respectively recognized their special storytelling abilities. The results have been consistently excellent, and it will be wonderful to discover precisely what it is in Tariq that excites the studio – particularly for an excellent character like Blade.

It was during the Marvel Studios panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 that Marvel Studios shocked the world by not only announcing that a Blade reboot was in the works, but that Mahershala Ali had already been cast as the titular vampire-hunting Daywalker. With many other projects in development, the project hasn't made many waves since then, but we did learn back in February of this year that Watchmen's Stacy Osei-Kuffour has come aboard to pen the screenplay. We don't currently have any details about the plot of the developing film, or who the central antagonist will be (though we have come up with a few suggestions).

Obviously being in talks with a director to come aboard is a huge step forward for Blade, and it's a sign that Marvel Studios is getting more focused on making the film a reality – but sadly what we don't have right now is a timetable for the movie. While a a whole bunch of new release dates were announced at the end of last year during the Walt Disney Company's Investor Day, one project that didn't get one is the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first vampire feature. Because we don't know when it will be coming out, it's a bit tricky to predict when we can expect it to go into production. Fans will have to demonstrate some more patience as we continue to wait for more new information, but for now you can scope out everything that is on the way from the franchise by heading over to our Upcoming Marvel Movies guide.

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Black Widow has finally arrived, and it would seem that the latest installment in Marvel’s cinematic franchise is having a strong opening weekend. Aside from heading towards some impressive box office numbers, most fans and critics seem to have enjoyed the long-awaited solo outing for Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff. But not everyone has been so impressed, including Blade alum Stephen Dorff. The True Detective actor recently shared some very blunt thoughts on the movie and, now, he’s opening up about Mahershala Ali’s Blade reboot.

In 1998’s Blade, Stephen Dorff played Deacon Frost, the primary antagonist to Wesley Snipes’ Daywalker. The superhero film may have debuted decades ago, but it still holds a firm place in fans’ hearts and is regarded as a turning point for the superhero genre. So Stephen Dorff is a part of film history and, when asked to share thoughts on the upcoming reboot, he discussed what he thinks made that original film unique:

Stephen Dorff is well aware of Blade’s legacy, specifically how it affected the superhero genre. The actor doesn’t seem to scoff at the idea of revamping the property, but he does suggest the producers find a capable director with a distinct vision. That filmmaker will certainly have a talented star in Mahershala Ali and, during his interview with Zavvi, Dorff had nothing but praise for his True Detective co-star:

Many seem excited to see the two-time Oscar winner take on the role of Marvel’s resident vampire hunter, and Stephen Dorff isn’t the only actor to sing Mahershala Ali’s praises. OG Blade Wesley Snipes has been asked about Ali’s movie numerous times, and he’s had nothing but kind words for his superhero successor.

As of right now, Blade is still in development but is taking solid steps in the process. Earlier this year, Marvel Studios tapped a writer in the form of Watchmen scribe Stacy Osei-Kuffour, who is now the first Black woman to ever write a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Production on the PG-13 movie is reportedly set to commence sometime in 2022. So it’s going to take a little while for the movie to arrive but, hopefully, it’ll be worth the wait.

And in the meantime, you can stream Blade on HBO Max, which you can sign up for using this link.

Wesley Snipes’ debut as Blade in 1998 was integral to popularizing the superhero movie genre, and soon the time will come for Mahershala Ali to leave his stamp on the character. It was announced at 2019’s San Diego Comic-Con that the Green Book actor will play the vampire hunter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While we’re still a ways off from seeing the Blade reboot, the project just got a cool tease thanks to Disney+’s Loki series.

I won’t spoil the big events of the latest Loki episode “The Nexus Event” here; you can look elsewhere on CinemaBlend for spoilers. However, during the episode, Owen Wilson’s Mobius said something intriguing during a conversation with Wunmi Mosaku’s Hunter B-15:

Well, well, it appears even vampires can cause problems for the Sacred Timeline. Now, to be fair, this technically isn’t the first time vampires have been mentioned in the MCU. In Thor: Ragnarok, Taika Waititi’s Korg picked up a big wooden fork on Sakaar and said that it wasn’t really useful as a weapon “unless you’re fighting off three vampires that were huddled together.” However, that was more of a joke line, whereas Mobius’ statement is our first direct confirmation that vampires lurk within the MCU, and the Time Variance Authority has had dealings with them.

Now obviously not every Loki viewer is aware that a Blade reboot is coming, but at least Mobius’ statement tips them off about the existence of vampires in this franchise. As Marvel’s resident vampire hunter, Blade, a.k.a. Eric Brooks, has made it his life’s purpose to cut through these bloodsuckers, a task he’s uniquely suited for thanks to being half-vampire, hence why he’s been nicknamed the Daywalker. Whether the new Blade movie will be the first time we actually see vampires in the MCU or if they’ll appear in another project beforehand remains to be seen.

As far as Blade goes, outside of Mahershala Ali playing the titular role (which he scored after meeting with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige following his Oscar win in early 2019), all we know is that Watchmen’s Stacy Osei-Kuffour is writing the script. This will be Ali’s fourth comic book-related role, having previously played Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes in Luke Cage, The Prowler in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Titan in Invincible. Blade will reportedly begin filming in July 2022, but a release date hasn’t been set yet.

Once more Blade news trickles in, or if vampires are mentioned/seen elsewhere in the MCU, we’ll let you know. In the meantime, keep checking back with CinemaBlend for all the biggest updates for upcoming Marvel movies. New episodes of Loki premiere Wednesday on Disney+, so make sure you’re subscribed to the Mouse House’s streaming service to stay current.

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Marvel Studios has been wowing its fans with the beginning of the next story arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Part of that effort included a huge sizzle reel that teased a lot of projects, gave us titles to put to the sequels we’d just attached numbers to, and staked out release dates between here and summer 2023. Yet with all of that hoopla, the Blade reboot was, again, absent from any official discussion. Well, there’s a good reason for that, as the studio has just set a date for when the Mahershala Ali starring project will go into production, as well as why it’s taking so long.

As you probably expected, the MCU machine is currently hard at work plotting out what this new version of Blade is going to entail. That vital step apparently required the project to push out its production schedule, which was planned to start this September. As THR reports, the new date for Blade’s reawakening has been set for next summer, and for the following specifics:

It was only this past February that writer Stacy Osei-Kuffour, who recently served as a writer/story editor on HBO’s Watchmen limited series, was announced as being hired to write Blade. So at this point, there may have been an initial draft or outline that was handed into Marvel Studios. But the pushing of the initial production schedule would suggest that if this were the case, there might be some intense conversations currently underway about how this new, potentially PG-13 version of the Daywalker might play out.

We’ve all come to know the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a well oiled machine, so this Blade delay may just be part of Kevin Feige’s strategy to make up for lost time in a post-2020 world. Much like the time the entire MCU shifted its release dates to make way for Spider-Man: Homecoming, the delay in Blade’s production schedule could also be attributed to other reasons we don’t know about. Maybe something Fantastic is about to happen, and that set the wheels in motion.

That being said, it’s still hard to ignore the supposedly issued PG-13 edict that sees Deadpool 3 as the only Marvel Cinematic Universe project known to carry an R-rating. In the absence of information on what’s going on with Blade, other than its shooting schedule being delayed for almost a year, these sort of concerns tend to run rampant. So it wouldn’t be surprising to get an official statement from any of the Marvel Studios brass that clarifies that this isn’t a case of the studio ice skating uphill.

Blade is now set to start production in July 2022, with no release date staked out as of yet. Meanwhile, fans hungry for the cinematic component of the MCU will only have to wait until July 9th, when Black Widow debuts in theaters and Disney+ Premier Access. If you want to be ready for the big day, and need to catch up on all the Marvel TV you’ve missed out on this year, you should check out the current subscription offer Disney+ has running.