Mahershala Ali to Star in ‘Blade’ as Part of Marvel Studios’ Phase Four

In truly unexpected news from Marvel Studios’ panel at San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H, Mahershala Ali was announced as the new Blade, the half-vampire vampire killer previously played by Wesley Snipes in three films for New Line Cinema.

When New Line opted not to produce more Blade films itself, the rights to the character reverted to Marvel Studios, making it possible for him to join characters like Doctor Strange (a natural companion character), Captain Marvel, and Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“Blade” does not have a release date set.The news is also unexpected because Ali has been part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe before: as the villainous Cornell Stokes, a.k.a.

Cottonmouth, on Netflix’s “Luke Cage,” one of the best portrayals of a Marvel character ever put onscreen.

Ostensibly the Marvel Netflix series were part of the McU, with references, however oblique and throwaway,

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