After making a voice cameo in Eternals’ post-credits sequence, Mahershala Ali will debut as vampire hunter Eric Brooks in Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Blade. First announced during the San Diego Comic-Con, 2019, the film has been confirmed to release on November 3, 2023, as part of the recently unveiled Phase Five of the shared continuity. The film is already in the initial stages of production, with director Bassam Tariq helming the project. And now, the team has added a crucial talent in the form of Ruth E. Carter. Ruth E. Carter is one of the most renowned costume designers in the industry. She has previously worked with Marvel Studios for Black Panther (2018).

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Next Best Pictures’ Will Mavity (via The Direct) confirmed Carter’s involvement in the much-anticipated Blade reboot at Marvel Studios.

Carter is known for her work on films that portray the African-American experience and pioneered Afrofuturism concepts in her costume design work. She has frequently worked on films that have featured such themes and values. Such films include acclaimed films like Selma and Marshall.

Ruth E. Carter has also designed costumes for the upcoming film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to Black Panther. The first official teaser of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever featured a massive upgrade in terms of characters’ looks and style. There were more elements of sci-fi embedded in those looks. And now, with Namor and the Talocan civilization entering the MCU, there will be a new form of cultural diversity in the film’s fashion. Notably, Carter won an Academy Award for her work in Black Panther.

Carter’s Involvement Hints at Blade’s Style

     Marvel Studios

Carter did a great job with Black Panther. Her costumes played a huge role in the film’s social commentary on cultural heritage and representation. The overall sci-fi designs of the Wakandan nation also had elements of those roots, reflected profoundly via Carter’s costume designs.

Blade is essentially quite distinct in terms of context and narrative. But Carter’s experience would come in handy in reflecting the brutality of that character. Moreover, it would be interesting to see how Mahershala Ali fits in Carter’s costumes for Blade, which is set in a PG-13 story.

The film will feature a variety of characters, including horrifying vampires. The film may mark the return of Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman after he was revealed to be in the association with Eric Brooks in the same post-credits sequence of Eternals. It has been confirmed that the sword Ebony Blade will be featured in the film. If that’s the case, it would be interesting to see Carter’s take on Black Knight.

Blade will release as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe - Phase 5 on November 3, 2023. Starring Mahershala Ali, the film is written by Stacy Osei-Kuffour and directed by Bassam Tariq. Blade will begin filming is set to start in October 2022, and more details may unravel during the D23 Expo scheduled to undergo next month.