I now believe that the MCU's Blade is probably dead

Despite being announced almost six years ago, not a single frame of Blade has been shot as of now. Announced at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel announced that Academy Award Winner Mahershala Ali would be the one playing the Daywalker in the movie. However, ever since 2022, the movie has been stuck in development hell.

Frequent walkouts from directors and even some actors are why some people that the movie is not coming out. Now, as Mia Goth, who was rumored to play Dracula's daughter, Lilith, has joined Ryan Gosling in Star Wars: Starfighter, which is set to be directed by Shawn Levy and is expected to release in the Summer of 2027. With this move, I believe that this move signifies that Blade isn't coming out.

Does Mia Goth's joining Star Wars: Starfighter signify that MCU's Blade just lost another actor?

Technically, it doesn't signify that Mia Goth has exited the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. However, it should be noted that the Blade movie has been a comically delayed project ever since its announcement at Hall H at the 2019 Comic Con. Furthermore, two directors have walked out of the movie, and so have the actors Delroy Lindo and Lanterns actor Aaron Pierre.

As of now, Goth is still attached to the project officially, but it is imperative to note that the movie has yet to begin filming despite being announced over five years ago. Goth did talk about the Marvel project with Deadline at the premiere of MaXXXine in June 2024. She said that everyone who was working on the movie behind the scenes:

“Really care, they do. They want to make a great movie. That’s the sense that I get from them and that feels good.”

The last time someone from Marvel's side gave an update on the MCU project was in November 2024, when Kevin Feige was interviewed by Omelete. He said:

"We are committed to Blade. 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. But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU."

Based on this quote, the Daywalker might be a part of the MCU after its reboot with Avengers: Secret Wars.

Rumor has it that Blade might be directed by John Wick's Chad Stahelski:

The internet was swarming with the rumor in March of this year that Chad Stahelski, who is known for his work in the John Wick movies, had taken over the directorial duties of the Marvel project. However, it must be noted that, for now, it is just a rumor. It should also be noted that even Stahelski expressed hope to direct the movie featuring the half-human, half-vampire.

The John Wick director appeared in Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused. This video was posted in January 2024, in which Stahelski addressed the chances of directing the long-delayed Marvel movie:

“Of all the things out there, I would take a swing at Blade in a second. Like that’s one that gets under my skin, like ‘Ah! I’d take a swing at that one.'”