Mahershala Ali Still Wants to Film ‘Blade’: ‘Call Marvel, Let Them Know I’m Ready’

It’s been nearly six years since Mahershala Ali stepped out onstage during Marvel Studios‘ Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, where producer Kevin Feige announced that the two-time Oscar-winning actor would be playing the vampire slayer Blade, rebooting the character first originated on-screen by Wesley Snipes and adding him into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since then, the project has dropped numerous directors, lost cast members and faced several delays.

via: Comic Book Movie

Ali was asked about the status of the film while being interviewed on the red carpet of last night's Jurassic World Rebirth premiere, and it sounds like he is still more than willing to suit-up as the Daywlker - but the ball is very much in the studio's court.

"Call Marvel," the actor said to Variety. "I’m ready. Let them know I’m ready."

Ali had a little more to say to THR: “I would love for Blade to happen; we’ll see, I don’t know where Marvel is at right now. I’m just looking for the next great part, I really am.” 

If that next great part comes along before Marvel is ready to get Blade moving again, there's a good chance Ali will no longer be available - or interested.

Last we heard, the latest draft by Eric Pearson - who is the sixth writer to have been assigned to the project after Michael Green, Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Michael Starrbury, Beau DeMayo and Nic Pizzolatto - had "finally satisfied everyone involved," but clearly this wasn't the case.

Apparently, the real reason Blade was pushed back again is because Marvel is prioritizing Multiversal stories in the build-up to Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. So, it may not be a case of the studio struggling to "get Blade right," and simply bad timing for Ali's Daywalker to make his MCU debut.

We have also heard that the positive response to Wesley Snipes' appearance in Deadpool and Wolverine may have led to the studio switching gears and deciding to make the reboot a Multiverse story that could feature both takes on the Daywalker.

Whatever the case may be, Feige assured fans that Marvel is "committed" to seeing Blade to fruition shortly after the most recent delay.

“We are committed to Blade. We love the character. We love Mahershala’s take on him. And rest assured: whenever we change direction with a project, or are still figuring out how it fits into our schedule, we let the audience know. You’re all up to date on what’s happening. But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU."