Turns Out Blade’s Delay Didn’t Just Affect Mahershala Ali. It Also Caused A Big Change In One MCU Project

The Blade reboot from Marvel, which has faced numerous delays and was removed from the 2025 release schedule, is still being talked about. While production has been paused, Mahershala Ali remains set to star. These delays have also affected the upcoming animated series Marvel Zombies, and the show’s creators have recently shared the changes they had to make as a result.

Before the *Zombies* series premiered, Marvel Television’s Brad Winderbaum and showrunner Bryan Andrews explained how the live-action show influenced the direction of the animated version of Ali’s character. They told ComicBook.com that because of production delays, they couldn’t simply create a standard alternate version of the Daywalker. Winderbaum elaborated on this decision, stating:

We were really enthusiastic about bringing Blade to the screen, and honestly, we didn’t expect our animated version to be released before the live-action film – it was always intended to come out afterward. We knew both projects would be developed at the same time, but with animation needing so much advance preparation, we were aware that if the live-action film changed direction, we’d need to adapt quickly to avoid falling behind.

The fix? Promote the vampire hunter into something new amid the undead apocalypse. He continued:

Giving him the identity of the Fist of Konshu opened up a lot of creative possibilities. It allowed us to develop his backstory and character independently, which meant we weren’t as restricted by what was happening in the live-action version.

For anyone unfamiliar, in Marvel comics, Moon Knight operates as the Fist of Khonshu – essentially, he’s the human representative of the Egyptian moon god. He’s tasked with delivering justice on the god’s behalf. This connection grants him various abilities, like increased strength and healing, occasional glimpses into the future, and special equipment, depending on the specific storyline.

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Giving Blade a supernatural connection to the Egyptian god Khonshu in *Marvel Zombies* adds a new dimension to his abilities, moving beyond his traditional vampire-hunting skills. This allows the show’s creators to develop unique backstory and a simplified, self-contained power source for the apocalyptic world.

This casting change isn’t just a fix for production issues; it marks Blade’s official debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Todd Williams providing the voice instead of his previously announced actor. It’s notable that after years of attempts to get a Blade movie made-and a quick appearance by Wesley Snipes in a different universe in *Deadpool & Wolverine*-it’s this animated series that brings the character into the main MCU timeline. The creator calls it a welcome surprise, and the trailer has already gotten fans excited about a major action sequence featuring the Daywalker.

Looking at the bigger picture, the way this project is made makes sense. Animated shows can plan far in advance, while live-action films are more flexible during filming. If the animated series tried to constantly change based on the movie’s progress, it would likely never be finished on time for its 2025 release. By focusing on a specific version of Blade – one blessed by the god Khonshu and nicknamed ‘Blade Knight,’ which is a great name – the show’s creators can finalize the story, action sequences, and character behavior without being affected by changes to the movie. (Assuming the movie actually gets made, that is.) This is a smart way to handle the Marvel multiverse, and honestly, it creates a more exciting premise for a mature-rated zombie story.

The future of the live-action *Blade* reboot is still uncertain. Since it was first announced in 2019, the project has gone through several changes in directors and writers, and it was even removed from Marvel’s planned release schedule. This has led to speculation about other potential projects, like a *Midnight Sons* series, though Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige maintains that *Blade* is still planned. Meanwhile, instead of waiting for the live-action film, Marvel has decided to create an animated version, offering a new take on the character.

Fans of Moon Knight’s Daywalker will soon be able to see him in animated form when *Marvel Zombies* debuts on September 24, 2025. You’ll need a Disney+ subscription to watch it.

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2025-09-17 21:47