MOVIE NEWS – On March 27, 2022, the Oscars became global headlines when a Hollywood actor stormed the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock in front of a live international audience. Will Smith, a leading contender for Best Actor that night, became part of one of the most talked-about moments in awards show history.
The saga of Blade continues—and not in the way Marvel fans were hoping. Ever since the film was announced back in 2019, audiences have been eager to see Mahershala Ali bring the Daywalker to life. But with the live-action movie still lost in development hell, fans have had to settle for something else: a stylized animated appearance. While Ali hasn’t officially suited up on screen, his version of Blade briefly appeared in the season finale of What If…?, and he’s confirmed to return in Marvel Zombies.
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The most detailed look at Ali’s Blade to date comes in the form of concept art posted to Instagram by Marvel illustrator Justin Kim. But this version isn’t your standard Blade: in the What If…? universe, the vampire hunter takes on the mantle of Moon Knight, the hero originally portrayed by Oscar Isaac. Kim explained his design in the post:
“For my final What If…? post, I had the privilege of designing Blade as Moon Knight. I wanted to use the Moon Knight wrappings to create sharp, aggressive silhouettes, making it look like he could draw a blade from anywhere on his body. Both characters share ninja-like traits, so I leaned into that aesthetic.”
The art clearly reflects Mahershala Ali’s likeness, offering a speculative glimpse at how the Oscar winner might look if the film ever reaches completion. This alternate Blade is expected to appear again in Marvel Zombies, the animated adaptation of the popular comic series. The show will feature undead versions of Marvel heroes and premieres on Disney+ on October 3, 2025.
Blade’s Live-Action Journey Is Still a Mess
Few Marvel projects have suffered more delays than Blade. First announced over six years ago, the film has cycled through three release dates—all missed. Its latest target was November 2025, but with no finished script in sight, that date is increasingly unrealistic.
Much of the chaos can be attributed to external issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and industry-wide strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. Original director Bassam Tariq exited in 2022 due to scheduling conflicts. Yann Demange took over, only to leave the project in 2024. Despite the turbulence, Mahershala Ali and Mia Goth remain attached to the cast. Still, fans have grown frustrated by the lack of updates and the absence of any release window.
Right now, Blade’s return to the big screen remains uncertain. All fans have is a conceptual glimpse of what might be—and hope that the real film doesn’t end up joining the MCU’s list of abandoned dreams.
Source: Instagram
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