Kevin Feige feels like a 'gigantic loser' over Blade
Kevin Feige says Marvel’s failed Blade reboot with Mahershala Ali left him feeling like “a gigantic loser and failure.” On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the Marvel Studios president admitted the long-delayed project never got off the ground, even as Ali stayed ready and Wesley Snipes returned briefly in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Key Takeaways
- Kevin Feige told host Joshua Horowitz he feels like a “gigantic loser and failure” that Ali’s Blade never launched.
- Marvel announced the Ali-led reboot in July 2019; directors and writers churned for years before the film left the calendar in fall 2024.
- Feige said the script was not “insanely great” amid a studio pullback from quantity-over-quality expansion.
- Ali said in 2025 he was still ready; Snipes briefly revived Blade in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine.
The candid remarks came as Feige promoted Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Horowitz joked about “therapy” over the troubled vampire-hunter film. Feige quipped back about a therapy session, then paired pride in Snipes’ return with blunt regret over Ali’s stalled reboot. Coverage of the interview is also available from Variety.
Why did Marvel’s Blade reboot stall for so long?
Marvel first unveiled Ali as Blade at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019. Bassam Tariq signed on to direct, then exited in September 2022 about two months before shooting was due to start. Yann Demange later stepped in and dropped out in June 2024.
By November 2023, Variety reported at least five writers had worked on the script, including Stacy Osei-Kuffour and Michael Starrbury. One account said the story briefly shifted toward a women-led narrative packed with life lessons. Reports also floated a budget target under $100 million before Marvel pulled Blade from its release slate in fall 2024.
In July 2025, Feige framed the delays as a symptom of Marvel’s “over-expansion” into Disney+ shows, when “quantity trumped quality.” As the studio reset to “only accept insanely great,” Blade stalled because the material was not there yet.
What did Kevin Feige say about the script quality?
“We didn’t want to simply just put a leather outfit on him and have him start killing vampires. It had to be unique,” Feige explained. The team did not believe a merely good draft could be elevated into a great film in production, and he said Marvel would not risk that outcome for Ali—or for itself.
That standard, he suggested, mattered more than forcing a release. Fans tracking MCU shake-ups can find more entertainment and studio coverage in our Future Tech & AI Wonders section.
Is Mahershala Ali still ready to play Blade?
Yes, according to Ali. On the Jurassic World Rebirth press trail in 2025, he told Variety he was still game: “I’m ready. Let them know I’m ready.” People also quoted him urging, “Call Marvel.”
Snipes, who starred in Blade (1998), Blade II (2002), and Blade: Trinity (2004), returned for Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024—his first turn as the character in two decades. Feige called that cameo exciting even while mourning the lost Ali version.
Will Kevin Feige revive Blade after calling himself a failure?
Feige did not announce a new start date. His comments underscore unfinished business rather than a green light. With Spider-Man: Brand New Day due July 31 and Avengers: Doomsday set for Dec. 18, Marvel’s near-term slate is crowded—but Ali’s readiness and Feige’s regret keep Blade in the conversation.