Marvel Studios has made two mass project announcements since initially revealing Phase 4 at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019. The first came at 2020's Disney Investor Day, and the second followed on 2021's Disney+ Day, but even from those events, details remain vague on one film from the initial Phase 4 reveal: Blade.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige concluded his 2019 Comic-Con presentation in dramatic fashion as he brought out Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali to announce him as the star of the MCU's Blade, a moment that shocked everyone.
But as that moment nears its third anniversary, there appears to have been minimal movement, at least publicly, regarding the production of Blade. The reboot has picked up a few cast members, founds its head writer in Stacy Osei-Kuffour, and brought on Bassam Tariq to direct, and yet there is still no sign of a release date.
Even with no public progress on the production of his solo debut, that's not to say Marvel Studios has Blade himself on the sidelines. Ali made a vocal appearance in Eternals to deliver a warning to Kit Harington's Dane Whitman and will reportedly return later this year in the Werewolf by Night Halloween Special on Disney+.
Almost three years after its announcement, Blade appears to be nearly ready to step in front of the cameras as shooting looks to be beginning soon.
Blade Sets Working Title & Filming Plans
The Cosmic Circus exclusively reported that Marvel Studios' Blade will be produced under Standoffish Productions LLC while using Perfect Imprints as one of its working titles.
The report also stated that Mahershala Ali's Blade is currently planned to begin filming in July 2022 in Atlanta.
Blade has yet to set an official release date, but the vampire hero recently made his first vocal appearance in the post-credits scene of Eternals.
When Will Blade Release in Theaters?
Mahershala Ali's Blade has been in the works for a while now, so it's exciting to see more movement happening behind the scenes as the July start of filming nears. Over the coming months, fans can expect to see plenty more cast and crew announcements flooding in, with a release date likely to be announced at San Diego Comic-Con in late July.
In terms of when Blade will release in theaters, Disney has penciled in a November 13, 2023 release date for an untitled Marvel Studios blockbuster. Given the mid-2022 filming date, Blade will almost certainly occupy this date. After all, neither Captain America 4 nor Fantastic Four appears to be far enough along for a 2023 release.
But before then, it appears audiences will first get to know Ali's Blade on Disney+, as reports indicate he will appear in the Werewolf by Night Halloween Special later this year. There's even a chance he could make his on-screen debut as soon as next week in either Moon Knight's finale or Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
For now, Marvel fans can enjoy Mahershala Ali's only performance as Blade to date in Eternals, which is streaming now on Disney+.
