Marvel Studios' will soon bring Blade back to the silver screen with a new feature film starring Mahershala Ali in the title role. Now, fan art depicts what the Academy Award-winning actor and former Luke Cage star might look like as the human-vampire hybrid in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Released in 1998, the original Blade film from New Line Cinema featured Wesley Snipes in the lead role and is widely credited with paving the way for the current wave of superhero blockbusters, along with X-Men and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man. Snipes would reprise his role as Blade in two sequels, but the vampire hunter wouldn't return to the big screen again and the rights to the character eventually returned to Marvel in 2012. While Snipes indicated that he had discussed the possibility of returning to the role in some form with Marvel executives, the company ultimately decided to reboot the franchise with Ali now portraying Blade.
Marvel Studios' president Kevin Feige first announced the Blade reboot during the company's presentation at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, during which Ali made a surprise appearance to announce his casting. The following year, during Disney's Investor Day call in December 2020, Feige stated the development of the storylines is in process and an announcement would be made soon. Ali had recently noted that he landed the role after inquiring about Marvel Studios' plans for Blade while he was working on Netflix's Luke Cage, in which he portrayed the villain Cottonmouth. Now, digital artist ApexForm has unveiled artwork that imagines what Ali might look like in costume as Blade, hoping to remind fans of the character's long-awaited introduction to the MCU.
Blade, a.k.a Eric Brooks, is traditionally depicted in the comics as a human-vampire hybrid whose mother was murdered by a Vampire during his birth. Consequently, vampire enzymes were passed onto Brooks that bestowed him with immunity to vampirism and enhance physical abilities. With his powers, Brooks mastered his combat skills for the purpose of ridding the world of evil vampires, motivated by a desire for revenge for his mother.
While some fans might be disappointed to see Marvel Studios take Blade in a new direction, Snipes has expressed his support for the project. In a statement declaring his appreciation for fans who had hoped to see him return to the role of Blade, Snipes congratulated Ali on being cast as the character and noted he hopes the two of them will be able to work together in the future.
Ali is not the only actor to portray two different characters in the MCU. Alfre Woodard had previously appeared in Captain America: Civil War as a grieving mother before joining Ali in Luke Cage as Mariah Stokes while Gemma Chan followed her role as Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel by playing Sersi in Eternals.
Blade is in development for Marvel Studios.
Source: ApexForm