Mahershala Ali Says Marvel’s Blade Gave Him a Year of Free Training

After years of delays and uncertainty surrounding Marvel Studios’ Blade, Mahershala Ali appears to have found a silver lining in the project that never made it to the screen.

The two-time Academy Award winner spent more than a year training to portray the vampire hunter, and although his version of Blade ultimately fell apart, Ali says those skills ended up becoming useful for his new action thriller, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.

Speaking about the extensive preparation he underwent for Blade, Ali revealed that he trained for more than a year before the Marvel project stalled. Rather than looking back on the experience entirely negatively, the actor joked that Marvel essentially helped prepare him for his next movie.

“Oh, absolutely. For a year, yeah. A little more than a year. I’m actually really grateful. They helped pay for our movie, so thank you.”

Ali added that he was able to train for a year and views Marvel’s investment in that preparation as a “wonderful contribution” to the new film.

From Blade to Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother

There is an interesting connection between the two projects.

Mahershala Ali, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is written and directed by Bassam Tariq, who was previously attached to direct Marvel’s Blade before departing the project in 2022. After Blade fell apart, Tariq had the opportunity to develop the original film and eventually reunite with Ali.

Ali stars as Latif, a devout Muslim, widowed father and contract killer attempting to balance his faith and family with an increasingly violent life. The film also stars John Cho, Giancarlo Esposito and Tramell Tillman.

The physical preparation Ali originally completed for Blade wasn’t wasted. The actor previously explained that he was able to carry the skills he developed during more than a year of Blade training directly into the new film.

Ali has also made it increasingly clear that his time as Marvel’s prospective Daywalker is over.

When recently asked about moving forward with Blade, Ali said he is “done” and ready to focus on other projects.

That follows comments he made earlier this summer confirming he had moved on from the long-delayed Marvel reboot. Ali was originally announced as Marvel’s new Blade at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, but the film endured years of creative changes, delays and turnover without reaching production.

In an unusual way, however, the failed Marvel project helped lead Ali and Tariq to the movie they ultimately made together.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother opens in select U.S. theaters September 25.