Terrifying New Fan Image Of Mahershala Ali As Blade Is Rocking The Internet
Beware of Blade.
From the minute Marvel Studios announced during this year's San Diego Comic-Con that Moonlight and True Detective actor Mahershala Ali would be leading a reboot of the groundbreaking comic book movie Blade, fans have wondered what Ali might look like all done up as the titular character. Photoshop wizard and well-known Marvel fan BossLogic recently tried his hand at creating an edit of Ali's Blade that would further boost hype for the film — and the end product has done that and more. The fan art BossLogic whipped up is truly terrifying, and has taken the internet by storm.
Shared on his Instagram page, BossLogic's vision of Ali as Blade — a half-human, half-vampire named Eric Brooks who hunts and kills vampires after one blood-sucking creature murdered his mother during his birth — sees the actor wielding a gun in one hand and Blade's signature acid-etched sword made from tempered titanium in the other. His hair is shaved in Blade's mohawk-like style that exposes the distinctive tattoos along the sides of his skull, and tiny slices of hair are taken out of his eyebrows to make his appearance that much more menacing. In the photo, Ali's head is tilted down and his eyes are masked by the vibrant red glasses that sit on his face. The coat he wears is lined with that same shade of red, as is the chest piece beneath it.
Fans on social media are going batty for this intense red-and-black version of Blade, with countless commenters praising BossLogic's work on Instagram. BossLogic may have had some help in creating this edit, though, as it looks like he potentially used a promotional photo of original Blade actor Wesley Snipes as the basis for the image, then superimposed Ali's head over Snipes and made some clever tweaks. Still, BossLogic's edits are on-point and his Photoshop skills gifted fans a pic that's all kinds of sleek and spooky — just as Blade should be.
BossLogic is far from the first person to create an edit imagining what Ali could look like when he makes his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Blade. One artist, @goldiearver on Instagram, created gorgeous concept illustrations of Ali's Blade with fangs, a killer costume, and red glasses — round-framed ones rather than the squared-off pair BossLogic used in his edit. Another Photoshop expert, @apexform, imagined Ali's Blade as having glowing red eyes, heavy bullet-proof armor, and two swords tucked in a pack on his back.
Heck, this striking piece of fan art depicting Ali as Blade isn't even the first one BossLogic has made. Five months before Marvel announced the Blade reboot and confirmed that Ali would be starring in the lead role, BossLogic created an edit that featured Ali as Blade with heavy tattoos, fangs, reflective red sunglasses, and his sword sheathed in between his shoulders.
Clearly, most everyone is stoked out of their minds that Ali is playing Blade in the upcoming Marvel reboot. There was, for a short while, some controversy surrounding Ali's casting — but only because fans of 1998's Blade were hoping that OG actor Snipes would have some sort of involvement in the new film. Panic and promises of riots if Snipes didn't snag a part in the Blade reboot died down when Snipes himself came forward to comment on the project and Ali's casting in it. Snipes shared in a statement obtained by ComicBook.com that he understands why Marvel cast Ali as Blade and not him: it's just the nature of show business. He also gave praise to Ali, suggesting that if anyone was going to follow in his footsteps and take over the Blade mantle, Snipes would want it to be Ali.
"Although the news comes as a surprise, it's ALL GOOD. Such is the 'business' of 'entertainment!' Much peace to the MCU crew — always a fan," Snipes said. "Congratulations and Salaam to Mahershala Ali, a beautiful and talented artist whose expressions I look forward to experiencing for many years to come. Inshallah, we will someday work together ... Welcome to the Daywalker Klique."
There's a chance that Snipes could have some kind of role in the Blade reboot — potentially as Abraham Whistler, Blade's weaponsmith and mentor played by Kris Kristofferson in the original film — but it's clear that Ali will steal the show. Fans are practically chomping at the bit to see Ali's iteration of Blade up on the big screen, and while this edit by BossLogic helps satisfies that craving, nothing will compare to the real thing. However, Marvel hasn't yet dated the Blade reboot for release, so BossLogic's fan art (plus the countless other edits of Ali as Blade posted all over the internet) will have to tide everyone over for now.