Marvel’s Mahershala Ali-starring Blade reboot got so close to going before cameras that it had a warehouse full of costumes ready to go.
But as Marvel’s attempts to move forward with Blade stalled, the wardrobe items were instead sold — and were instead worn by background actors in Ryan Coogler’s acclaimed Sinners.
The surprising detail, revealed by Sinners producer Sev Ohanian in an interview with ScreenCrush, sheds fresh daylight on the pre-production work that went into mounting the MCU’s long-awaited and now in-limbo MCU Blade project. And also, perhaps, it suggests just how firmly parked that project is now — with no need for those costumes for the forseeable future.
“[Costume designer] Ruth Carter was working on the Blade movie that ended up not shooting,” Ohanian said. “At one point that movie was going to deal with, and she’s talked about this before, but at one point that film was going to deal with the past around the same era as Sinners.
“She happened to have a warehouse full of period-appropriate clothes, and it was like, ‘Yo, we got to shoot this movie like tomorrow.’ And Marvel was generous enough and kind enough to let us basically purchase it at price.”
It’s been no secret that Marvel’s Blade plans were — at one point, at least — for a period piece. Indeed, Carter previously confirmed during an appearance on The John Campea show that she had been working on costumes for a story set in the 1920s.
Exactly why the project then fell apart at a relatively late stage has never been publicly stated, though it was reported that director Yann Demange had left the project in June 2024, and Marvel finally pulled the film from its release schedule last October.
Blade was initially announced at San Diego Comic Con in 2019, and was even teased during the post-credits scene of Eternals in 2021, where Ali has a voice cameo. But Marvel has said very little about its plans for the character since.
“We are committed to Blade,” Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige insisted in November 2024. “We love the character, we love Mahershala’s take on him. And rest assured: whenever we change direction with a project, or are still figuring out how it fits into our schedule, we let the audience know.
“You’re all up to date on what’s happening,” Feige continued, referencing the project no longer being on Marvel’s release schedule. “But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU.”
Asked for an update on the project just last month, Ali seemed as in the dark as everyone else. “Call Marvel,” the actor said. “I’m ready. Let them know I’m ready.”
Is Marvel ready? For now, the company is heads down on getting its next tentpole Avengers films out the door, after a string of disappointing box office returns and mixed reviews. The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives later this month, ready to introduce Marvel’s first family just in time to see them reprise their roles in next year’s Avengers: Doomsday. The only other character with a movie slot right now? Tom Holland’s hugely popular Spider-Man, who is set to reprise his role in 2026’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Maybe, after all of that is said and done, Marvel might want those costumes back?
Image credit: Cindy Ord/WireImage via Getty.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
