Marvel’s Premiere Vampire Hunter Blade is Set to Return in Phase 5!

by Matt Ramos · Published July 25, 2022 · Updated July 25, 2022

Any vampires lingering in the MCU should beware because Marvel’s greatest vampire hunter Blade is making his live-action return after almost 16 years! Phase 5 will feature the next Blade film set to release on November 3rd, 2023!

Before the X-Men made their live-action debut in 2000 and Sam Raimi directed the Spider-Man masterpiece of 2002, it was the unlikely hero Blade that dominated Marvel’s live-action superhero scene in the late 90s. Played by the enigmatic Wesley Snipes, Blade combined action, intrigue, and style to weave an amazing tale.

Source: Marvel/New Line Cinema

Created by legendary comic book writer Marv Wolfman, Blade’s first appearance would fittingly be in The Tomb of Dracula #10 (1973). At the time only a supporting character, Wolfman felt the character’s potential so great that he was afraid of Blade eclipsing the very characters he was meant to support, and removed him from the comic.

Blade would get his first official solo story in Vampire Tales #8 and would spend most of the 90s supporting established Marvel characters such as Ghost Rider, while also appearing in heavily in Marvel’s Midnight Sons series. After the release of the film in 1998, Blade’s comic persona moving forward heavily mirrored the film.

Source: Marvel

Eric Brooks (Blade) is a unique species called a dhampire, signifying that he is half-human and half-vampire. This means that he is not restricted by the normal limitations often associated with vampires such as walking in the sunlight, yet retains all the usual strengths that vampires have including superhuman physical enhancements.

Source: Marvel

The next actor that will be filling the role of Marvel’s vampire hunter Blade is Mahershala Ali, known for his roles in Moonlight, Green Book, and Hidden Figures, Ali checks all the boxes one would need when looking for the perfect actor to carry the torch from Wesley Snipes.

Ali’s screen presence, suave-nature, and ability to illustrate levels of vulnerability and humanity through his characters are vital aspects needed for Blade, who struggles between his vampirism and human natures. With Ali’s ability to completely transform into his characters, this could be an even better showing then Wesley Snipes’ films.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Variety/Shutterstock (10341985al)
Mahershala Ali
Marvel Studios panel, Comic-Con International, San Diego, USA – 20 Jul 2019

While Blade’s first official film will arrive in November of 2023, he has already appeared in another MCU film. Well at least his voice was heard. Starring in an Eternals end credits scene, when Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman opens the Ebony Blade, Blade’s voice can be heard questioning “Sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?”

Is there a possibility that Harrington’s Black Knight will his debut alongside Blade? That may be reaching pretty far, but Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige must have a distinct reason for presenting a connection between the two characters at the end of Eternals.

Photo: Sebastian Nevols / The Guardian

Whichever direction Marvel intends to go with Blade we cannot wait to see this new film next year! It has been too long since the enigmatic vampire slayer has graced the theatre and he is long overdue to join the MCU!