Mahershala Ali May Return to the MCU, But Not as Blade

‘Blade‘ is a highly anticipated Marvel Studios project that will introduce the iconic antihero to the MCU. Mahershala Ali, an Oscar winner, is set to play the title role, with Mia Goth cast as Lilith. Fans of The Vampire Hunter are eagerly looking forward to this film.

For Ali, the movie seems to be a passion project, and he appears to be dedicating significant time and energy to its development. However, the project has faced numerous challenges, with some even describing it as being in “developmental hell.”

Despite Ali’s current role as Blade and his voice cameo in ‘Eternals,’ there are rumors suggesting that he might return to the MCU in a different role if ‘Blade’ doesn’t move forward as planned.

As you might know, Mahershala Ali has played more than one Marvel character. However, his other role is far less well-known compared to Blade, Marvel’s iconic vampire hunter. This character wasn’t part of the MCU but belonged to the now-defunct Marvel Television label. If you recall, Ali portrayed Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes, a significant antagonist for Luke Cage and the Defenders.

While this article isn’t focused on Luke Cage, it does concern the Defenders. According to a rumor from Cosmic Circus, Marvel is exploring the possibility of bringing back all the Defenders for a shared MCU appearance, especially with Daredevil’s continued presence in the franchise.

Jace: Hey Alex, I hope you’re having a good start to the month! With what we know of Daredevil: Born Again so far, are there any plans of doing Marvel Knights?

Alex: It’s a tad too early to discuss Marvel Knights, but I know they’re working on a group ensemble for the street storylines. Sort of like Defenders, but something else.

rapsfan: Can we see Mike Colter, Finn Jones, and Krysten Ritter reform their roles as Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Jessica Jones in the MCU again? If so, where?

Alex: I will comment on what I heard through the grapevine: Yes, Marvel Studios’ want all three to come back. However, their roles will vary depending on the character, with the most significant change being applied to Danny Rand.

Source: Cosmic Circus

While nothing is confirmed yet, this idea opens up numerous possibilities. Given that Cottonmouth was a significant villain for the Defenders, it could provide an interesting avenue to bring Mahershala Ali into the MCU, albeit not in the role he and many fans might prefer. For now, this remains just a theory, and we’ll have to wait and see how the Defenders’ integration into the MCU unfolds and what happens with Ali’s ‘Blade’ film.

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