{
  "id": 7284079,
  "title": "'They Helped Pay For Our Movie, So Thank You': Marvel's Blade Might Be Scrapped, But Mahershala Ali Says He's Grateful He Got a Year of Free Training",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/they-helped-pay-for-our-movie-so-thank-you-marvels-blade-might-be",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-14T09:19:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IGN",
    "slug": "ign",
    "url": "https://www.ign.com/articles/they-helped-pay-for-our-movie-so-thank-you-marvels-blade-might-be-scrapped-but-mahershala-ali-says-hes-grateful-he-got-a-year-of-free-training"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mahershala Ali has praised Marvel for offering him a year of complimentary physical training during his preparation for the Blade role, which has now been cancelled. Ali, who is set to star in Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, an action thriller, credits his year of training with paying for his new film. The two had previously worked together on Blade, but the project has since been scrapped due to ongoing delays. Ali expressed his gratitude to Marvel for their contribution, stating that they helped make the film possible. Despite Marvel's previous enthusiasm for the Blade project, the studio ultimately decided against proceeding with it. Ali has since moved on from the idea and is focused on his current project. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige admitted to feeling like a \"huge loser\" over the cancellation of Blade, admitting that the project had gone through multiple incarnations before settling on a modern-day adaptation. While there is speculation about whether Marvel will find a replacement for Ali and push forward with a new Blade, for now, the actor is focusing on his upcoming film.",
  "summary": "Mahershala Ali has thanked Marvel for a year of free physical training, and said his prep time for the now-cancelled Blade helped pay for his new movie instead.",
  "key_points": [
    "Marvel canceled Blade project due to delays.",
    "Mahershala Ali received a year of free training.",
    "Ali grateful to Marvel for training that paid for his new film."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}