Mahershala Ali flanked by two images of Blade from Marvel Comics

The MCU has a new rule for its release schedule, and the change may spell more bad news for Blade. While the MCU started out with a modestly small release schedule as the franchise wrapped up in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the MCU timeline exploded as the Infinity Saga came to an end, the Multiverse Saga began, and the creation of Disney+ created a demand for more content. While more MCU TV shows and movies to watch can be a good thing, quality began to slip.

Disney CEO Bob Iger previously voiced the intention to pull back on MCU releases and focus on popular, successful franchises over as many releases as possible. Now, the Disney head has put a specific limit on MCU content—moving forward, there will be no more than 2 MCU TV shows released per year and 2-3 theatrical films. This announcement wasn’t paired with a tease of any canceled projects, but it may mean audiences have to wait longer to see Marvel’s resident vampire hunter take action.

Marvel’s New Release Schedule May Push Blade Back Even More

Mahershala Ali in sunglasses in Alita Battle Angel

While the movies of the MCU are no stranger to delays, Blade has had a particularly tumultuous run with creative team changes and related delays. Blade was first announced way back at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 with a projected 2023 release date. However, the movie was initially pushed back to November 2024. After that, the movie saw a pushback to February 2025. Finally, Blade was delayed to November 2025, which is its current target window. However, that too may not last.

Iger’s announcement specifies that the MCU will only release 2-3 movies per year moving forward (and up to 2 TV shows). However, as of now, there are four MCU movies set for release next year, and Blade is the latest in November. The movies that are set to precede Blade in 2025 – Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, and The Fantastic Four – have all begun their marketing pushes, meaning Blade is the most logical choice for a delay if one happens.

Why Blade Has Had Such A Troubled Production

Mahershala Ali in Alita Battle Angel walking down a gray hallway

While Blade has suffered more delays than most/any MCU project, it’s worth noting that the MCU Phase 5 and 6 slate as a whole saw group delays in the face of some general restructuring and the SAG-AFTRA strike that halted production industry-wide. However, Blade has had its own problems as well, including several behind-the-scenes changes in the creative team. Hopefully, the current team and production remain stable.

Initially, Blade was set to be directed by Bassam Tariq. However, the Mowgli director left the project a year later, reportedly due to conflicts caused by production delays. He was replaced by Yann Demange, best known for his work on Lovecraft Country. Several writers have been attached to the project as well, starting with Stacy Osei-Kuffour (Watchmen), moving to Beau DeMayo (Moon Knight, X-Men ’97), then Michael Starrbury (When They See Us) and finally Nic Pizzolatto (True Detective). Different writers isn’t inherently a bad sign, but it does make the movie’s delays seem a bit more reasonable.

Could Blade Be In Danger Of Being Scrapped?

Mahershala Ali as Vector in Alita Battle Angel, speaking in his iconic black circle sunglasses

Having been announced 5 years ago, delayed, and undergoing behind-the-scenes changes, it’s reasonable to wonder if Blade is happening at all. The recent announcements from Disney that the MCU will be lowering yearly output and focusing on proven properties only adds to those concerns. However, at this point, it does not seem as though Blade is in danger of cancellation. While production changes have come quickly and often, acclaimed actor Mahershala Ali is still attached as Blade, which has always been the project’s biggest selling point.

Casting has only recently been announced for The Fantastic Four, and plot details still remain slim. Given that the movie is set to precede Blade, it seems likely that at least some details about the movie will surface in the coming months. Blade occupies a unique, paranormal corner of the MCU, so his introduction has been highly anticipated. Hopefully, regardless of another possible delay, the creative team can put together a compelling package and make Blade the movie it deserves to be.