Lanterns star Aaron Pierre has reflected on being dropped from the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s long-in-development Blade movie. Pierre will make his superhero debut in the DCU as the fan-favorite Green Lantern John Stewart. However, the rising star was originally set to join the MCU in Blade opposite Mahershala Ali, but the project’s constant delays and rewrites left Pierre off the project.
In a profile for Men’s Health, Pierre reflected on finding out he was being dropped from Blade. “I remember being cast in Blade and feeling elated,” recalled Pierre, “But something I learned during that time was that until you step foot on the set, you haven’t commenced work.” Pierre did not give details about who he was set to play or why he was dropped from the film, only saying, “It just took a different creative direction, and I was no longer a part of it. You have to accept that.”
Aaron Pierre was cast in Blade back in February 2022, when the movie was aiming for a November 2023 release. Pierre was cast shortly before he began filming Rebel Ridge. After being part of the project for two years, Pierre revealed in March 2024 that he was no longer attached to the MCU film. Pierre told Variety, “Early on, there were conversations. As the project evolved, I’m no longer part of that — attached.” Many at the time took that as Pierre dropped out, but it appears that whatever character Marvel Studios cast him as is not in the film anymore. It is possible that his character was only included when Blade was originally a period piece, an idea that seems to have been dropped and shifted to a contemporary set picture.
The Troubled Development of ‘Blade’
Blade has become Marvel Studios’ most troubled production. Despite a big announcement at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019 that Mahershala Ali would play the title hero, the film has cycled through two directors, multiple writers, and has been delayed several times, to the point that it has since been removed from the theatrical schedule entirely. Additionally, Pierre is not the only actor to have been dropped from Blade, as Sinners star Delroy Lindo is also no longer attached. So far, the only appearances of Blade in the MCU are a voice cameo in the post-credits scene of Eternals, the original Wesley Snipes version returning for Deadpool & Wolverine, and an MCU variant in Marvel Zombies.
The acclaimed action thriller Rebel Ridge debuted on Netflix on September 6, 2024, and quickly became a hit. One month later, in October 2024, Pierre was cast as John Stewart in Lanterns. Pierre is quickly becoming a rising talent and is expected to be a big part of the DCU’s future. Despite being dropped from Blade, he has found his way into many other Disney projects. He voiced Mufasa in the 2024 hit film Mufasa: The Lion King, and is set to appear in Star Wars: Starfighter, set for release in May 2027. Meanwhile, Blade is no closer to release, and with Marvel Studios focusing on Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, it might not hit theaters until 2028 at the earliest.
- Release Date
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November 7, 2025
- Director
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Bassam Tariq
- Writers
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Eric Pearson
- Franchise(s)
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Marvel Cinematic Universe, Blade