With Blade in Limbo, Mahershala Ali Was Born for This Justice League Role
After years of delays, rewrites, and behind-the-scenes turmoil, Marvel’s long-promised Blade reboot starring Mahershala Ali has reportedly been canceled — a sharp reversal for a project first unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con 2019.
So, this is not the Blade update anyone was hoping for. After years of stop-and-go development, the Mahershala Ali-led solo movie might be off the board. Emphasis on might: it is a rumor, but it is coming from a plugged-in reporter, and fans are already gaming out what happens next.
Where this is coming from
Marvel announced Ali as Blade back at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, and the project instantly shot to the top of the studio's to-do list. Since then: delays, rewrites, and more behind-the-scenes turbulence than anyone would like to admit. This week, industry reporter Jeff Sneider said on The Hot Mic podcast that the movie is effectively dead. He also stressed that this has not been confirmed by Marvel. Still, that was enough to set the internet on fire.
What fans want now: Ali as Martian Manhunter
As the Blade chatter soured, the conversation pivoted to DC. A wave of posts started casting Ali as Martian Manhunter, the stoic, telepathic moral compass of the Justice League (Harry Lennix previously played a version of the character on screen). The pitch is simple: Ali's calm presence, voice, and the weight he brings to roles make him an easy fit for J'onn J'onzz.
Some of the louder calls tagged James Gunn directly. On Jan 9, 2026, accounts like DC Universe Daily, Logan, Just-ice, and luke urged Gunn to make it happen, with one take arguing Gunn keeps finding better homes for actors the MCU never fully used, and another noting the timing would be ideal if that long-rumored Manhunter casting call is real. The scheduling angle came up a lot too: if Blade is off as a solo, Ali may be freer to go deep on a DCU role without juggling conflicting shoots.
Is Blade gone, or just changing shape?
Sneider did not just say the solo film is dead; he also floated that Marvel still plans to use the character, just not via a standalone origin movie. Instead, Blade could arrive as part of a team-up centered on the MCU's supernatural corner.
"I'm hearing Blade is dead and that it is a Midnight Sons movie... He'll be introduced in Midnight Sons."
Worth noting: none of this is official. That said, the Midnight Sons rumor has been around for a while. Back in 2024, insider Daniel Richtman reported that Marvel had started speeding up development on a Midnight Sons movie and was looking for a director. Updates have been scarce since, but if Sneider's latest is on target, Marvel may fold Blade into that ensemble rather than burn more time on a solo reset.
The short version
- 2019: Marvel unveils Mahershala Ali as Blade at San Diego Comic-Con.
- 2019–2025: Delays, rewrites, and multiple creative shakeups stall the solo film.
- 2024: Insider Daniel Richtman says Marvel is ramping up a Midnight Sons project and seeking a director.
- Jan 9, 2026: On The Hot Mic, Jeff Sneider says the Blade solo is essentially dead (still unconfirmed), and suggests Blade will debut in Midnight Sons.
- Same day: Fans flood social media pitching Ali as DC's Martian Manhunter, calling on James Gunn to make it happen.
My take
Until Marvel says it out loud, treat this as a strong rumor with momentum. If the studio does pivot, introducing Blade in a Midnight Sons movie makes sense and lets Ali finally play the character without the weight of a troubled solo. And if Gunn decides to shoot his shot at Martian Manhunter instead? Also makes sense. Either way, Ali is going to end up anchoring something significant. The only question is which logo is on the poster.