Mahershala Ali Will Play 'Blade' In Marvel's Reboot Of The Movie

Marvel made the big announcement at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday night.

Blade is coming back to the big screen, but this time the lead role will be played by Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali. The news was announced at Day 3 of Comic-Con as the Marvel Studios released its full slate of phase 4 films.

The movie does not have a release date yet, but is likely a couple years away. It will be the first Blade film created by Marvel. The first three movies in the franchise were New Line Cinema projects that saw Wesley Snipes playing Blade, the half-vampire, half-human superhero.

The surprise announcement came at the very end of Marvel's Comic-Con panel, during which the studio laid out the plans for all its forthcoming films.

Marvel president Kevin Feige shocked the crown by introducing Ali, who then put on the Blade cap. Every subsequently lost their minds.