
Source: Albert L. Ortega / Getty
Mahershala Ali, and Marvel, stays winning. Yesterday (July 20), at San Diego Comic Con, Marvel announced that the Oscar-winning actor would be starring in the reboot when he hit the stage rocking a Blade baseball hat.
Who needs subtlety?
Ali will portray the half-vampire, half-human hybrid (his mother was bitten by a vampire while pregnant) with a penchant for fading evil vampires. Marvel announced a number of its future flicks (Phase 4) including Black Widow (May 1, 2020), The Eternals (November 6, 2020), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (May 7, 2021), Thor: Love and Thunder (Nov. 5, 2021),
Wesley Snipes portrayed Blade in three films, and while Twitter celebrated the choice in Ali, many made sure to pay homage to the OG.
Peep the reactions below.

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty
Mahershala Ali To Star As ‘Blade’ In Marvel Reboot, Twitter Salutes Wesley Snipes was originally published on hiphopwired.com
1.
Mahershala Ali is officially starring in "Blade" and while there will never be another Wesley, this is going to be fantastic.
— Olivia A. Cole is half here (@RantingOwl) July 21, 2019
The way Mahershala Ali says “fuck” alone could’ve gotten him the role. He’s perfect.
2.
Take a moment to savor the fact that we have two Black Oscar Award winners, known for their dramatic work, now the leads in two celebrated stories. Bow down to Mahershala Ali, our new #Blade, and @ReginaKing of @watchmen. Marvel at the #BlackExcellence. #BLADEMCU #WatchmenHBO pic.twitter.com/Ea95qWYtC9
— April (@ReignOfApril) July 21, 2019
3.
Wesley Snipes talking to his agent and team once he finds out Marvel has replaced him with Mahershala Ali as Blade. pic.twitter.com/NkCCJqSr2S
— Britt-Man🚭 (@TjseanB) July 21, 2019
4.
Find someone who looks at you the way Taika Waititi looks at Mahershala Ali
— Al Kennedy (@housetoastonish) July 21, 2019
(Photo by @karadefrias) pic.twitter.com/LLOT9hPWZk
5.
a black captain america
— lisa ✵ (@marvelsdanvrs) July 21, 2019
jane foster thor
lgbtq valkyrie as Asgard's KING
Shang Chi!!
a diverse eternals cast
Mahershala Ali as blade
captain marvel 2
black panther 2
Phase 4 is lit and WE ARE THRIVING pic.twitter.com/6t95gVFsmq
6.
Kevin Feige has said that Mahershala Ali is the perfect casting for Blade as he is one of the greatest actors currently working and that he is a perfect dream casting for the role. #SDCC #SDCC2019 (Source: @Variety) pic.twitter.com/iIhjjdSKVW
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 21, 2019
7.
black widow, doctor strange and wanda, thor 4, sambucky, loki, richard madden, angelina jolie, rachel weisz, mahershala ali, captain marvel 2, black panther 2, gotg vol3, f4, mutants
— nichi⁷◡̈ (@adorvtete) July 21, 2019
I FEEL SO ALIVE pic.twitter.com/8LDO6CK0in
8.
9.
"Mahershala Ali is the new Blade in the MCU!"
— Jon (@octaneblue) July 21, 2019
Me: Oh fuck, that's awesome! But wait, he was already Cottonmouth in Season 1 of Luke Cage--
Marvel: pic.twitter.com/n0fRfV5Tqb
10.
Bryan Tyree Henry's reaction to Mahershala Ali putting the Blade hat on 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/quUOQGbsbK
— Big Boss (@LordBalvin) July 21, 2019
11.
Marvel is making a new Blade movie and Wesley Snipes is not Blade.
— Sean 😐 (@sergebomba) July 21, 2019
Sean: well I don’t think I like that, Wesley Snipes is Blad—
Mahershala Ali is Blade.
Sean: pic.twitter.com/Iuu3ZlDzwx
12.
Wesley Snipes when he sees Mahershala Ali in the Blade dressing room— pic.twitter.com/LbqAMYXJlg
— Whorfery (@Whorfery) July 21, 2019
13.
Wesley Snipes finding out that marvel cast Mahershala Ali as Blade instead of him pic.twitter.com/CnmbYXs68k
— Selina (@ECNALHANID) July 21, 2019
14.
Wesley Snipes was the perfect Blade. Mahershala Ali is bout the only person to do it any justice. pic.twitter.com/XtEvZjUsaS
— Joe Clark Jr (@MrAviator1906) July 21, 2019