Mahershala Ali has publicly criticised Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige for abandoning the Blade film project, agreeing that Feige should feel like "a giant loser" for the decision. The two-time Oscar-winning actor expressed frustration about the cancelled production, which he had been extensively preparing for, having relocated his family to Atlanta and undergone intensive training in martial arts and sword fighting.

Despite having a celebrated star under contract and billions of dollars at its disposal, Marvel ultimately decided not to proceed after Feige concluded the screenplay was not "insanely great" enough to justify greenlight. Ali revealed he had turned down other opportunities whilst Marvel repeatedly delayed the project, even injuring his knee during training; he emphasised his continued commitment, saying he remains in Atlanta with his family awaiting the film's revival. Feige has previously characterised the decision as the biggest failure of his career, a sentiment with which Ali fully concurs.