Apart from Aaron Pierre's news of joining DCU's Lanterns, he was also previously cast to be in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, specifically in the Blade reboot.
However, with the vampire hunter project facing continuous delays, could Pierre still be down to join the franchise? Here's what's happening.
Is Aaron Pierre Still Joining the MCU? Why He Exited Blade Project
The Lion King star was initially cast in an unspecified role for the Blade reboot. However, he experienced his highest-profile disappointment when he was no longer attached to the franchise. Recently speaking to Men's Health, Pierre disclosed why he exited the vampire hunter story:
"I remember being cast in Blade and feeling elated. But something I learned during that time was that until you step foot on the set, you haven't commenced work," Pierre explained to the outlet, "It just took a different creative direction, and I was no longer a part of it. You have to accept that."
Pierre wasn't the only one who had to deal with the shakeups. Mia Goth previously tried to remain positive about the number of undecided angles to portray the vampire slayer by saying, "It's for the best that it's taken the time that it has. They want to do it right."
It remains to be seen what Pierre would have played in the MCU franchise, but despite blowing his opportunity in the MCU, he has a chance to play a lead role in the other comic book franchise. In DCU, Pierre is set to play John Stewart in the upcoming Lanterns series.
Is the Blade Reboot Still Happening? The Latest News
Given that Blade has had multiple directors and several writers, which included X-Men '97's Beau DeMayo, True Detective's Nic Pizzolatto, Black Widow's Eric Pearson, and others, the reboot project shifted 'creative directions' in more ways than one.
At one point, Blade was supposed to take place in the 1920s, with Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige claiming there had been two versions of the story that were set in the past. Feige also said that the latest take on the story was that they're working on it being set in the modern day.
Needless to say, Blade changed so much of its core story behind the scenes that Pierre's character might no longer make sense to add to the roster.
As of writing, the Blade movie has been removed from the MCU's release slate. Meanwhile, fans can watch Aaron Pierre portray John Stewart in Lanterns on HBO sometime in 2026.
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