After years of waiting for Marvel’s Blade reboot, Mahershala Ali says he’s no longer looking back. According to toThe Hollywood Reporter,   the Oscar-winning actor recently reflected on the project and admitted that he’s accepted it wasn’t meant to happen.

Ali was first announced as the new Blade during Marvel’s San Diego Comic-Con presentation in 2019, and fans immediately began looking forward to seeing him it take on the iconic vampire hunter. But over the years, the film ran into one setback after another, including director changes, script rewrites, and multiple delays. Eventually, the project stalled, leaving its future uncertain.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Ali said he doesn’t have any hard feelings about how things unfolded. Instead, he believes everything happens for a reason and is focused on the work ahead. He also shared that the training and preparation he completed for Blade ended up benefiting his performance in Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, directed by Bassam Tariq, who had previously been attached to the Marvel film.

Although many fans were disappointed that Ali never got the chance to play Blade, he seems at peace with the outcome. His comments suggest he’s more interested in embracing new opportunities than dwelling on a project that never made it to production.

For now, Marvel has not announced what comes next for Blade, but Ali has made it clear that he’s moved on. While fans may always wonder what his version of the character could have been, the actor is focused on the future and the projects still ahead of him.