How The MCU Can Introduce Blade (Where Has He Been?)

With its Multiverse, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has various ways to introduce Mahershala Ali's character in Blade. Marvel announced its new Blade reboot film at 2019's San Diego Comic-Con, with Ali set to star as the titular half-human and half-vampire. Wesley Snipes, who initially brought the character to the big screen in 1998, has already praised the decision to cast Ali. In addition to finding its main star, Marvel has also supposedly found the film's director in Bassam Tariq, who's known for 2020's Mogul Mowgli.

Marvel's Loki has already teased how powerful Blade will be in the MCU. In Loki episode 4, Mobius (Owen Wilson) makes an interesting comment to Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) while walking by the room where the Time Variance Authority is holding Lady Loki (Sophia Di Martino) prisoner. "You know, we brought in Kree, Titans, vampires. Why is it the two orphan demigods are such a pain in the ass?" says Mobius. Though it's a throwaway moment, it puts vampires in the same category as the MCU's Kree and Titans, which are some of its most powerful adversaries. With Blade having all the vampire powers without their annoying weaknesses, Ali's character could be one of the most powerful beings in the MCU.

Marvel has worked itself out of a problem for introducing Blade. With more than twenty MCU films already released, a significant new character, especially one as strong as Blade, draws questions about their whereabouts during the previous MCU events. After all, if Blade is as formidable as Titans or Kree, it seems he would've shown up at some point. However, the MCU introduces the Multiverse in the Loki finale, giving it limitless options for new character introductions. With multiple timelines now clashing with the main timeline of the MCU, Marvel could virtually introduce Blade at any point. Still, some options immediately rise to the surface.

Fan poster featuring Mahershala Ali as Blade

Given Blade's history in Marvel's comics, a Multiverse tie-in with Sony seems possible. In the comics, Blade gets some of his powers from Morbius, the Living Vampire. Fortunately for Marvel, that character is already set to appear in Sony's upcoming film Morbius, which stars Jared Leto as the titular vampire. Interestingly, an MCU character, Michael Keaton’s Adrian Toomes/Vulture, is supposedly appearing in the 2022 flick. With the importance of Morbius to Blade's backstory, the film would be an easy way for Marvel to crossover and introduce the character, even if it's just in a cameo. Blade was simply occupying another movie universe with Morbius this whole time.

Of course, Marvel has plenty of opportunities to introduce the character in an MCU property as well. For instance, Marvel's upcoming Moon Knight series may have connections to Blade. Both Moon Knight and Blade are associated with a superhero team called the Midnight Sons. In addition, Loki introduces Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) by showing a Kang variant was secretly in the MCU the entire time. Blade could have a similar Disney+ introduction in Moon Knight. After all, Oscar Isaac called Moon Knight a "wild" show, and not much is wilder than introducing one of the MCU's most powerful characters.

More: Where Was Blade During Marvel's Phase 4 Movies Trailer?