By: Renae Richardson
Sometimes things just don’t work out, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end. Sometimes it means there is something new, something better, something purposeful waiting on the other side. This is a lesson Mahershala Ali is learning in real time.
The Weight of the Mantle
Fans of the Marvel character Blade were filled with excitement when word came that an updated feature would be made. The original premiered in the 90s with Wesley Snipes in the lead, and Snipes made the character iconic. It became a strong staple in his growing career, so when the reboot was announced, massive attention turned to who would carry the mantle. Could there be another to take up the charge and fill Snipes’ shoes?
Per Variety, in 2019 Ali was presented as the answer.
“Mahershala Ali was announced to star in a ‘Blade’ movie during a flashy, surprise Comic-Con appearance in 2019.”
And yet, since that introduction, the project seemed to be stranded in a wasteland.
Ali Speaks His Truth
Mahershala Ali. Image Source: Andre D. Wagner/New York Times
Ali has since opened up about how he feels regarding the film not being made, and he has confirmed that he’s moved on. As GQ recounts,
“If they wanted to do it, we would’ve done it.”
Still, there is some sting left over from a dropped promise. As he further told GQ,
“I didn’t feel great about the fact that things finished the way that they did [with Blade]; I like seeing things through.”
Even so, Ali remains positive and sees it as a lesson learned, and in that space he took on a new project, one he feels was truly meant for him.
Feige’s Explanation
Kevin Feige, who is in the driver’s seat, has also made a statement regarding the project stalling and later fizzling out. The case he made could be viewed in a multitude of ways, but it all boils down to choice and a lack of faith. As Feige opined on a recent podcast,
“We didn’t want to simply just put a leather outfit on him and have him start killing vampires. It had to be unique. It fell into the time when we started pulling back and saying, ‘Only accept insanely great.’ And it wasn’t ‘insanely great’ at the time. We didn’t feel like, as we often do, you can have a good script and make it a great script through production. We didn’t feel confident that we could do that on ‘Blade,’ and we didn’t want to do that to Mahershala and didn’t want to do that to us.”
On record, that sounds like a perfectly reasonable move when there is any trepidation. However, given the notable idea that the script was good, one wonders what exactly made it less than great. Was there a fear that Ali couldn’t bring out what was written? Was it because they couldn’t visualize Ali as Blade? There is still much left unsaid underlying the failure to launch. As Ali stated,
“You had me under contract; they have billions of dollars. If they wanted to do the movie, we would’ve done the movie. So we’re not doing the movie.”
Success and Saying Yes
Ali went on to speak of an actor’s expectations and how success plays a big part in shaping them. As he told GQ,
“When we have success, I think we imagine that the seas part and everything is just thrown at your feet, and that can definitely happen. But I still feel that there has to be a real consciousness around what you say yes to, because then you could be busy just to be busy and lose the specificity in your work and the resonance that has made you worthy of getting those opportunities.”
What Is Meant for You
Ali has moved on, and the project he has taken on, “Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother,” paired him with another creative who was once tapped to bring “Blade” to life, Bassam Tariq. Ali took that forward momentum in full stride and went on to proclaim that things happen as they should.
“When I look at what is for me, it was either this or that, and I’ll take this. No offense to them. I’ve been doing this professionally for pushing 30 years now, and one thing I’ve learned is that what is for you is for you and what is not is not.”
That shows a mature mindset and certainly someone worthy of their calling. As the saying goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and Ali is an apt example of that.
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