Following a full reveal of their 2020/2021 slate, Marvel Studios president brought out Mahershala Ali (
Moonlight;
Green Book;
Luke Cage) and announced that the 2x Academy Award-winner would be playing the vampire hunter
Blade in a new solo movie set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Considering that there were few surprises in Marvel Studios' 2020/2021 slate reveal, it's actually quite remarkable Kevin Feige and company were able to keep a secret as big as Mahershala Ali playing
Blade under wraps for this long and it sounds like the reason may be because it was actually Ali who pitched the film.
In a post-presentation interview with
The Hollywood Reporter, Feige revealed Ali actually called Marvel Studios after winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in
Green Book earlier this year and set up a meeting with the Marvel team. "
When Marhershala calls, you answer." said Feige and he then revealed that at the meeting, Ali was very upfront about his desire to make a new
Blade movie.
So, that was that, and now, Marvel has added another acclaimed actor to their wide ranging roster of superheroes, although while that's certainlty good news for all, it also more or less confirms that none of the Marvel Television productions actually take place in the MCU.
BLADE
Following the “Black Widow” presentation, Feige had another big surprise up his sleeve for the enthusiastic Hall H crowd. He was joined on stage by actor Mahershala Ali and then announced the new Marvel Studios feature film “Blade” that Ali will star in.