Mahershala Ali is not appearing asBladein the character’s first formalMarvel Cinematic Universerole, as another actor has been cast as the vampire hunter.Ali was first announced to lead theMCU Blade moviein 2019. Since then, development on the project has moved very slowly, with several changes to the story, cast, and directors along the way.
So far,Ali has played Blade once, and it was only as a voice cameo in one ofEternals' post-credits scenes, where an off-screen Blade talked to Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman as he was about to touch the Ebony Blade. Blade has been removed from theMCU’s slate of projects, with the film delayed indefinitely. Now, another actor takes on the role.
The MCU’s Next Blade Isn’t Mahershala Ali According To A New Report
Another Blade has already appeared in the MCU, asWesley Snipes returned as his iconic version of the character inDeadpool & Wolverine. While fans have since asked Marvel to bring back Snipes, the MCU’s next Blade appearance will not feature either Snipes or Mahershala Ali as the vampire hunter, with a new actor stepping in as a unique Daywalker.
According toComicBook.com,Marvel Zombies, the TV-MA spinoff of the zombie-themed episode of Disney+‘sWhat If…?, will feature actorTodd Williams as the voice of Blade. Interestingly, this is not the first time that Williams replaces Ali, as the actor previously took over the role of Titan from the MCU actor in Prime Video’s hit superhero seriesInvincible.
Marvel Zombies’ version of Blade will be unique. Besides the fact that this is the first time that an MCU-adjacent Blade fully appears in a Marvel Studios project, the character’s design is modeled after Ali,Blade will serve as this world’s Moon Knight. This opens the door for an exciting new take on the vampire hunter.
Why Marvel Zombies' Blade Isn’t Mahershala Ali
Marvel and Mahershala Ali have not commented on why the actor is not playing Blade inMarvel Zombies. However, there might be an easy explanation for it.Not all MCU stars have returned to voice their characters in animated projects. Namely, Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. have been recast as Captain America and Iron Man inWhat If…?
Marvel Zombieswill featurea returning cast that includes Elizabeth Olsen as the Scarlet Witch, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, and more. That said, it is likely that many Marvel stars will also not reprise their roles in the show, as is the case with Mahershala Ali’sBlade. This does not confirm a full-on MCU recast for now.
