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Credit: D23Marvel Studios has axed one of its longest-suffering movies, according to a recent report.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Marvel has struggled to sustain its creative momentum since Avengers: Endgame (2019). In recent years, many projects have failed to reach the franchise’s former heights.
Overstuffed Disney+ series, inconsistent box office returns, and divisive storytelling have led to dwindling audience enthusiasm. Films like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and The Marvels (2023) underperformed, while Disney+ shows like Secret Invasion faced backlash for weak writing.
Marvel now faces the challenge of reclaiming its cultural dominance amid growing franchise fatigue. Efforts to revive interest include bringing back Robert Downey Jr., not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), along with reuniting with Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo.
The studio also confirmed the return of several superheroes, from expected names like Thor and Captain America (but no Spider-Man) to surprise additions like Professor X, Gambit, and Mystique.
It has also made an effort to streamline its release slate, dropping several planned projects for Disney+ and slashing the number of films released in theaters. In 2024, we received just the one Marvel movie, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), although that likely also had much to do with the aftershock of the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Strikes.
Marvel Drops ‘Blade’ After Years of Struggles
The latest movie dropped from Marvel’s release slate is, according to a recent report, Blade.
Marvel’s attempt to bring Blade back to the big screen has been plagued by setbacks. First announced in 2019 with Mahershala Ali in the lead, the film has cycled through multiple directors and six screenwriters (yes, six) while struggling to find a clear vision.
Ali was reported to be “incredibly frustrated,” with budget concerns and shifting studio priorities also slowing progress, leaving the project in limbo.
As per The Playlist’s Rodrigo Perez, Marvel has now decided to drop the film. “Pencils have been put down, and active development on it has shuttered,” Perez said.
However, that doesn’t mean Ali won’t ever appear onscreen.
There’s reportedly still a good chance that his take on Blade will appear in another project, such as Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), which will act as a second part of sorts to Avengers: Doomsday, or in Midnight Sons. Midnight Sons – a team of supernatural superheroes in the comics – seems like the more likely option, considering the sheer number of existing characters that Marvel will already need to juggle in Secret Wars.
Other actors attached to the film included Aaron Pierre and Delroy Lindo, who have both since departed. Mia Goth is still attached to co-star as Lilith, a vampire after the blood of Blade’s daughter. It remains to be seen how, if at all, Marvel will utilize the actress if Blade is officially axed.
Marvel recently featured Blade – also known as Eric Cross Brooks – in Deadpool & Wolverine. However, this iteration of the character was played by Wesley Snipes, who previously portrayed the character in a trilogy from 1998 to 2004.
Deadpool & Wolverine made a quick reference to the Blade reboot’s floundering status by having Ali’s Blade utter that there is “only ever going to be one Blade,” to which Deadpool pointedly looks at the camera.
Deadpool & Wolverine editor Shane Reid later confirmed that there were plans to make a much more explicit reference to the film’s place in development hell.
“There was actually a take that we had in there for a while where [Deadpool] sneezed ‘Mahershala,’ which was really funny,” Reid told io9. “So it would be like, ‘There’s only ever be one Blade.’ And he goes, ‘Mahershala!’ But I think this is where we all trust Ryan [Reynolds] to know exactly what that character is and what the fans want from Deadpool.”
Were you excited to see Blade?