Mahershala Ali backs Kevin Feige over failed Blade reboot

According to reports, Feige previously called himself a “gigantic loser and failure” because the film with Ali never got off the ground.
Ali also said he trained physically for about a year for the role and injured his knee in the process.

What happened

Mahershala Ali has responded to Kevin Feige’s comments about the stalled Blade reboot. According to the reporting, Ali agreed with Feige’s description of himself as a “gigantic loser and failure” because Marvel Studios was unable to make the film with Ali happen.

The reaction came after an earlier interview Feige gave on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, which the sources say took place at the end of July. There, Feige expressed disappointment about the project, which is described in the reporting as a reboot that never got off the ground and was ultimately framed as failed or cancelled.

Ali told GQ, according to the report, that he still does not know why Blade was never made. The actor, described in the sources as a two-time Oscar winner, also said he trained physically for about a year for the role and injured his knee.

The sources also note that Feige was excited to see Wesley Snipes return as Blade in Deadpool & Wolverine. That detail is used in the reporting as extra context around the wider Blade history at Marvel Studios.

Timeline

Late July — Kevin Feige discusses his disappointment over the Blade reboot on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, according to the reporting.
September 22 — Mahershala Ali’s GQ response is picked up in the supplied reporting.
Unknown date — Ali says he trained for Blade for about 1 year and injured his knee.

Background

Blade with Mahershala Ali was announced by Marvel Studios as a new version of the character, but according to the supplied sources the project never really got moving. The reporting uses terms like “cancelled,” “failed,” and “never got off the ground,” though the material itself does not make clear whether Marvel Studios formally cancelled the project or whether that is mainly the wording used by the articles.

The Blade discussion comes back at a time when Marvel Studios is often questioned publicly about delayed or changed plans. In this case, the focus is mainly on Feige’s own disappointment and Ali’s confirmation that he understands that criticism.

Sources

IGN: Mahershala Ali agrees that Kevin Feige is a gigantic loser and failure over failed Blade reboot
Deadline: Mahershala Ali On Kevin Feige's 'Blade' Failure
Variety: Mahershala Ali: 'Blade' Is the Biggest Failure of Kevin Feige's Career
Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast (as cited in the reporting)