All articles tagged with #mahershala ali
Mahershala Ali stars as Latif, a grieving Muslim hitman, in Bassam Tariq’s new action thriller 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.' The film, set in Houston, explores faith and fatherhood after the collapse of the long-delayed Marvel 'Blade' reboot. It is currently in US theaters, with international releases scheduled for October and November.
Mahershala Ali stars as Latif, a grieving Muslim hitman, in Bassam Tariq’s new thriller 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.' The film emerged after the collapse of the long-delayed 'Blade' reboot, allowing Tariq and Ali to pivot from Marvel’s stalled project to an intimate, faith-driven neo-western set in Houston.
Mahershala Ali confirmed in a GQ interview that he agrees with Kevin Feige's assessment that the cancelled Blade reboot was the biggest failure of his career. Ali stated he does not know why the project failed after being announced in 2019, noting he trained for a year, injured his knee, and relocated his family to Atlanta for the film. He expressed frustration over the delays but ultimately framed the cancellation as a 'blessing in disguise' that allowed him to collaborate with director Bassam Tariq on the new film Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.
Mahershala Ali publicly agreed with Kevin Feige’s assessment that the unmade 'Blade' reboot is the biggest failure of Feige’s career. Ali revealed he trained for a year, injured his knee, and relocated his family to Atlanta for the project, which stalled for seven years due to creative and logistical issues. While Feige cited Marvel’s over-expansion into streaming as a cause, Ali emphasized the personal cost of waiting for a film that never materialized, noting he has since channeled that training into the film 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.'
At TIFF 2026, Mahershala Ali stars as Latif, a widowed father who is also a hitman in Bassam Tariq’s Houston-set action drama, a film praised for its bold blend of faith, grief, and vengeance as it unfurls across a sprawling multicultural city and centers Ali’s blade-trained, fearless performance.
John Cho breaks his long-running screen persona by playing Haun Yoon, a militant Texas pastor who leads a violent church in Bassam Tariq’s Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, an action thriller premiering at TIFF opposite Mahershala Ali’s grieving contract killer Latif. Cho describes the look—with cowboy hat, boots, and grillz—as a tool to pull him out of himself and into a commanding, dangerous leader. He also highlights extensive rehearsals, choreographed fight sequences, and the collaborative process with Ali that helped shape the film’s faith- and family-driven premise, marking his first major villain turn in a career spanning comedy, drama, and blockbuster franchises.
Mahershala Ali says he’s moving on from the Blade reboot, telling GQ that if Marvel had wanted to make the movie, they would’ve done it by now; after years of delays and leadership changes, he won’t be known for remakes and is pursuing original projects, with his next film connected to Bassam Tariq after Blade’s collapse.
Marvel confirms the long-gestating Blade movie with Mahershala Ali is officially canceled, marking one of the decade’s high-profile misfires for the studio. The news affects not just the film, but related projects like Arkane’s Blade game and the broader Marvel slate, while Ali moves on to other roles. Blade will continue to appear in comics and games, and there’s chatter about reviving the concept in animation or in other media. Meanwhile, Marvel faces ongoing scrutiny over Black characters in the Multiverse Saga, even as Ghost Rider’s solo film targets a 2028 release.
In a GQ interview, Mahershala Ali says he has moved on from the Blade reboot, noting that if Marvel wanted to move forward, they would have by now and that the project isn’t happening for him, effectively confirming Blade’s current status as not moving forward.
Mahershala Ali claims Blade never happened because Marvel didn’t push it despite his contract and the studio’s billions; Marvel chief Kevin Feige later said the project stalled as the script wasn’t deemed ‘insanely great’ enough. Ali has since teamed with Bassam Tariq on a separate Amazon MGM action film and says he’s moved on, noting that if Marvel had really wanted Blade, they would have done it.
Mahershala Ali confirms the Blade reboot is not moving forward at Marvel, saying that if Marvel wanted the project, they would’ve done it, and he’s ready to move on; Kevin Feige previously described the situation as a major disappointment for not getting the project off the ground, while Ali has since pursued other roles and projects.
The Booster Gold live-action series at HBO is not moving forward, with writer David Jenkins confirming on Threads that his version won’t become a series; he also echoed Mahershala Ali’s public stance on Blade, though a studio source says the project remains in development as DC/HBO continue to explore related work.
Mahershala Ali says he’s not starring in Marvel’s Blade, asserting the project wasn’t for him and Marvel didn’t want to move forward despite him being under contract; the Blade reboot has faced a troubled history with directors leaving and momentum stalling, and Feige has acknowledged the frustration. Ali trained for Blade but moved on, later re-teaming with Bassam Tariq on Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, while Disney+ canceled Wonder Man.
In a GQ interview, Mahershala Ali says Blade won’t happen for him and he’s moved on to Bassam Tariq’s Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, an original, mercy-centered action drama about Latif, a devout Muslim Houston hitman who must protect his newborn after his wife’s death while navigating a religious-political conflict led by Pastor Hwan Yoon (John Cho). Tariq drew from a personal pandemic crisis to craft a story that blends grounded combat with magical realism; production faced challenges like coordinating stunts with a baby on set and involving the local Black Muslim community. Ali trained for stunts and emphasizes he’s done discussing Blade, choosing a project he believes will resonate through originality and depth.
Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige expressed disappointment over the failed Blade reboot with Mahershala Ali, saying he feels like a gigantic loser for not getting the project off the ground. Blade weathered multiple writers and director changes, with Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange exiting; Marvel even removed Blade from its release calendar in 2024 as delays mounted. Feige attributed the setback to Marvel's over-expansion into Disney+ content and the aim to deliver an insanely great script, while Ali remained eager to play Blade and a cameo-friendly Deadpool and Wolverine project offered a glimmer of the character’s return.