Blade Reportedly Set to Appear in AVENGERS: SECRET WARS, but Which Version Will It Be?
It’s kind of wild to think that it’s been seven years since Mahershala Ali walked onto the stage at San Diego Comic-Con and was officially introduced as Marvel Studios’ new Blade.
Since then, fans have gotten one tiny tease with the character’s voice cameo in Eternals, a mountain of rumors, several release date changes, and Wesley Snipes’ Blade returning to the big screen.
Now, there’s finally another interesting update about where Blade could show up next in the MCU.
According to insider Daniel Richtman, Marvel Studios is reportedly planning to include Blade in Avengers: Secret Wars, which is currently scheduled to hit theaters in December 2027. The rumor doesn’t clarify which Blade audiences would actually see, though, and that’s where things get interesting.
There’s a chance this refers to Ali’s version of the vampire hunter finally stepping into the spotlight after years of development issues. But after Wesley Snipes made that incredibly fun appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine, some fans are wondering if Marvel could instead bring back the original cinematic Daywalker for another multiverse crossover appearance.
If Marvel somehow chooses Snipes over Ali again, it would raise some serious questions about whether Ali’s Blade movie is ever happening at all.
Still, this is very much rumor territory right now, especially because Secret Wars appears to be constantly evolving as Marvel reshapes its long-term plans.
That uncertainty has already played out with other characters. Several insiders previously claimed Ghost Rider would make his MCU debut in Avengers: Doomsday before later reversing course and saying the character was no longer part of the film. So until Marvel officially confirms anything, this Blade report should definitely be treated carefully.
At one point, Marvel seemed fully committed to getting Blade moving quickly. Back at Comic-Con 2022, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige announced the reboot would arrive on November 3, 2023. The film was later pushed to September 6, 2024, then moved again to February 14, 2025.
After that, Blade landed on a November 7, 2025 release date and for a little while it actually seemed possible the movie might stick the landing. Instead, Marvel eventually removed it from the schedule entirely as the project went through another creative overhaul.
The movie has had an unusually rough road for an MCU project. Over the past several years, both Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange boarded the film as directors before ultimately exiting due to creative differences.
The screenplay has also passed through multiple writers including Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Beau DeMayo, Michael Starrbury, Nic Pizzolatto, Michael Green, and Eric Pearson.
Through all of it, Ali has continued expressing enthusiasm for playing the character. While promoting Jurassic World Rebirth last summer, the actor said:
"Call Marvel, I’m ready. Let them know I’m ready. I would love for Blade to happen; we’ll see, I don’t know where Marvel is at right now. I’m just looking for the next great part, I really am."
At this stage, there’s been growing speculation that Marvel may shift Blade away from a solo movie entirely and instead introduce him through a supernatural crossover project like Midnight Sons. If that’s the direction the studio is heading, Secret Wars could easily serve as the launchpad.
Blade feels like a character Marvel needs to figure out soon. Ali was an inspired casting choice from day one, and fans have spent years waiting to see him actually suit up and hunt vampires in the MCU.
As for Secret Wars, the movie is shaping up to be massive as Robert Downey Jr. wrecks havoc as Doctor Doom.
The Russo Brothers are directing both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars from scripts developed by Stephen McFeely, with Michael Waldron also contributing to the story.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives on December 18, while Avengers: Secret Wars is currently set for December 17, 2027.