Ali is 50 years old and still has no hope of performing. The new version of -Blade- will be removed from next year’s schedule.

As Mahershala Ali steps into the role of Blade, fans have been eagerly awaiting the revival of this iconic character since Marvel regained the rights in 2019. With Ali, an Oscar winner for both “Green Book” and “Moonlight,” attached to the project, excitement has been building. However, despite the buzz, there have been significant delays, with two directors having left the project and five screenwriters coming and going. The film was initially set to release on November 7 of next year, but Disney has now officially removed it from the release schedule, making way for “Predator: Badland.”

Kevin Feige, Marvel’s president, has consistently expressed his admiration for Blade. He noted that the film won’t begin production until a perfect script is in place. The original Blade trilogy, starring Wesley Snipes, was groundbreaking as the first R-rated superhero film, generating a total box office of $410 million with an average budget of $40 to $50 million. This legacy places even greater importance on the new installment. Mia Goth, who is set to portray the villain in the film, emphasized during the promotion of her new project that Marvel is genuinely committed to delivering a high-quality Blade film, stating, “You can really feel that they want to make something great.”

Since Ali took on the role in 2019 and made a cameo voice appearance in 2021’s “Eternals,” fans have been wondering why the film hasn’t moved into production yet. Now, at 50 years old, Ali has faced whispers of frustration. Currently, he is left waiting for Marvel to officially greenlight the project, and with the production team not yet in place, expectations of a 2025 release had already dimmed—now confirmed by the recent schedule change.

In the meantime, Disney will release “Predator: Badland,” directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who previously revitalized the franchise with the critically acclaimed “Prey.” That film significantly shifted the series’ reception, leading to high viewership on Disney+. With this success, Disney has decided to keep Trachtenberg on board for “Predator: Badland,” which will occupy the slot originally intended for Blade.