Gorgeous New Concept Art Paints Luke Cage Star As The Next Blade

What’s the one thing Jamie Foxx, John Boyega and Mahershala Ali all have in common? You know, aside from the fact that they’re all A-list actors operating in Hollywood.

As of this morning, they’ve all been linked with the vacant (?) role of Blade – albeit unofficially – as concept art extraordinaire BossLogic has produced a new piece that renders Mahershala Ali, star of Alita: Battle Angel, Luke Cage season 1 and the third season of True Detective, as the next day-walker.

Embedded below, this hellish concept art puts Ali front and center – sunglasses and all – for what’s undoubtedly a tantalizing preview of what the future may hold. Truth be told, Marvel Studios has been awfully quiet about the future of Blade ever since the rights reverted back to the House of M some years ago, but it’s really a question of when, rather than if, Eric Brooks will return.

And if Wesley Snipes isn’t available for whatever reason, Mahershala Ali would certainly look the part:

As is often the case, there’s an incredible amount of detail in BossLogic’s latest artwork, who told his Instagram followers that he was inspired by Mahershala Ali’s performance in the recently-released Alita: Battle Angel to render him as everyone’s favorite vampire hunter.

Whether it’s enough to convince the Powers That Be is another question entirely, but if nothing else, it’ll get everyone talking about Blade once more. And for a dormant project that’s been languishing in development hell for far too long, that buzz can often be the spark that turns things around.

Marvel’s Blade is currently on hiatus, but we’ll let you know if (and when) that situation changes…