Blade has become something of an odd topic of discussion for Marvel fans. It was confirmed back in 2019 that the Daywalker was finally set to make his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in his own self-titled movie, with Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali playing the role, but the project has yet to materialize. What's worse is that the project is no longer set to be a part of the Multiverse Saga, which wraps up next year with Avengers: Secret Wars, meaning that it probably won't arrive in movie theaters until 2028 at the earliest.
There have been updates, both good and bad, in that time but very little actual movement, as fans thought that Marvel Studios might end up cancelling the film. Heck, a number of reports claimed that this may be an inevitability, especially after it was taken off the release calendar after seemingly aiming for an October 2025 release. And yet, there is hope, for Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and Ali seem committed to making it happen.
As we wait for that, the first look of Ali portraying a version of the Daywalker has surfaced online, and it's nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Mahershala Ali suits up as Blade variant in What If...? concept art
The first official look at Mahershala Ali as Blade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been unveiled, and it's something of an interesting one at that. Why do we say that? Well, because it comes in the form of the full design of a Blade variant for What If...? season 3 who became his universe's version of Moon Knight.
The Moon Knight Blade was one of the many variants of iconic Marvel characters to appear in the series finale of the animated Disney Plus series, but his face was concealed in his cameo appearance. As a result, Ali's likeness wasn't shown in the episode itself. But that isn't the case here, as artist and character designer Justin Kim took to social media to offer up a closer look at Blade's design and you can clearly see Ali's likeness. Check it out below:
While the MCU's main continuity will feature Ali portraying a more traditional version of Blade, there is something extremely awesome about actually getting to see what he might look like in the role whenever he does appear in a live-action project. It's also extremely exciting because, as Marvel used a design for the character that featured Ali's likeness in a relatively-recently made TV series, that pretty much confirms that the studio is still committed to bringing the Academy Award winner into the MCU as the Daywalker.
After the Blade movie's announcement in 2019 at San Diego Comic-Con, all things vampire were quiet in the MCU until Ali made his debut as the character with an uncredited voice performance in the post-credits scene of 2021's Eternals. Four years later and the franchise has not yet featured any kind of fallout of that scene. And with the rumors surrounding the film's place in the franchise and its future, fans were beginning to wonder if they might never produce any kind of follow-up to it.
A recent report claimed that Blade had been cancelled as the studio were attempting to find a new way to introduce Mahershala Ali as the character that wouldn't yet involve him starring in his own standalone film (such as a Midnight Sons film, which would likely see him star alongside Oscar Isaac's Moon Knight). While this concept art - and indeed the use of Blade in What If...? season 3 - doesn't rule this rumor out, it does suggest that the studio still has plans of introducing the character at some point.
If Ali does make his in-person debut as Blade in the franchise, it won't be the first MCU property to feature a version of the Daywalker. Deadpool and Wolverine brought back original Blade star, Wesley Snipes, to reprise his role as his version of the character. It was an incredible moment that certainly set the stage for a version of Blade to play a more permanent role in the MCU. Perhaps this confirmation that Marvel still has Ali on its collective mind when it comes to the character is the beginning of the journey to Blade's arrival in the franchise.