Blade in the first Eternals post-credits scene.
However, the MCU's Blade has met some obstacles since its announcement, resulting in a delay of almost one year from November 2023 to September 2024. Without any physical appearances expected until then, and considering that mystical installments like Moon Knight and Werewolf By Night are expanding the darker corners of the MCU, Blade's late arrival in the Multiverse Saga seems worrying. However, this is actually a good thing for Blade and the MCU as all the behind-the-scenes efforts that are clearly going into Blade suggest that it isn't just another MCU movie. Marvel Studios is clearly eager to get Blade exactly right as part of the MCU's key to continued success.
Why Marvel Is Taking So Long To Release Blade
Compared to the movie that originally preceded it, 2023's The Marvels, Blade has a big challenge with the audience. The Marvels already runs on the foundations set up by Carol Danvers' introduction in 2019's Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau in 2021's WandaVision, and Kamala Khan in 2022's Ms. Marvel. Blade, on the other hand, has only been promoted by Mahershala Ali's involvement and Blade's voice cameo in Eternals. Hence, less than a year of production, from development to release, would have been extremely limiting for a new Marvel property.
What The Newest Blade Delay Means For The MCU's Future
The MCU Midnight Sons team-up, which would be the perfect place for Blade. Without Blade's proper introduction, these possible storylines would either stumble or make it obvious that Marvel's most famous vampire hunter simply couldn't arrive in time.
Why Blade's Delays Could Be Good For The MCU
Marvel Studios' focus on getting Blade right may give him a similar role to the one Iron Man had in Phase 1. Jon Favreau's directorial sensibilities, Kevin Feige's vision, and Robert Downey Jr.'s input helped Iron Man kickstart the MCU with the right foot, and its legacy continued all throughout the Infinity Saga and beyond Iron Man's departure in Avengers: Endgame. Likewise, Mahershala Ali's devotion for Blade and Marvel Studios' commitment suggest that the wait will be worth it, even if that means that Blade and other movies will take a longer time to arrive. Once Marvel solves Blade's production problems, it will be clear that the delays prioritized quality over speed.
