Marvel stealthily introduced Blade into the MCU towards the finale of Eternals, when Mahershala Ali’s voice could be heard warning Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman about the Ebony Blade. With Blade’s solo film in the works for several years and slated for the projected release date of late 2023 or 2024, it’s little wonder that the cast is beginning to take shape, and the latest addition appears to be Krypton star Aaron Pierre, although his role in the vampire hunter’s debut film has still been kept under wraps.
In the past, Kevin Feige has admitted to not having any intention of making a standalone Blade movie, given Marvel is taking a darker turn with the likes of Moon Knight and Werewolf By Night, Blade looks to fit well within that set of cast members. Delroy Lindo and Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman have currently been cast in the Bassam Tariq-directed addition to the MCU, and the connect revealed at the end of Eternals hints that they may show up.
Pierre has been cast in a highly desired role, implying that it is one of the film’s lead roles. Whether this character is a hero or a villain remains to be seen, but according to sources, the actor was given the job after swiftly making an impression on Feige and Tariq after multiple meetings with other actors. While Pierre is still considered an emerging star, he has already starred in Syfy’s Superman prequel Krypton, M. Night Shyamalan’s Old, and the television series Underground Railroad, in addition to being cast as Mufasa in Disney’s live-action spin-off to The Lion King.
