Talk about a superhero pivot! Actor Aaron Pierre is spilling the tea on why he left Marvel's long-delayed Blade reboot and how it paved the way for his exciting new role as John Stewart in DC's upcoming Lanterns series.
TL;DR- Aaron Pierre initially joined Marvel's Blade but exited due to "different creative directions" and constant story changes.
- He's now set to star as John Stewart, the Green Lantern, in the DC Universe's new HBO series, Lanterns, premiering in early 2026.
- This move is seen as a huge win for Pierre, catapulting him into a major, stable role within the DCU while Blade remains in development limbo.
Alright, superhero fans, grab your popcorn because we've got some juicy insider info straight from an actor who's played both sides of the Marvel vs. DC fence! Aaron Pierre, whose star is seriously on the rise, recently opened up about his departure from Marvel Studios' much-talked-about, but heavily delayed, Blade reboot. And honestly? It sounds like it was a blessing in disguise, leading him right into a lead role in the DC Universe's exciting new Lanterns series!
Marvel's Troubled Blade Reboot: A Long and Winding Road
Let's rewind a bit. Back at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, Marvel dropped a huge bombshell: Mahershala Ali would be stepping into the iconic boots of Blade, the Daywalker. Fans were hyped! But since then, the road to actually seeing Blade on screen has been, well, a little bumpy. Okay, a lot bumpy. The film has been stuck in development hell, bouncing between directors (like Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange) and cycling through multiple writers (including names from X-Men '97 and True Detective).
The story itself has been a moving target, shifting from a 1920s period piece to a modern-day tale. These constant creative changes have led to multiple release date delays – from November 2023, then September 2024, February 2025, November 2025, and now it's completely off Marvel's calendar. Yeah, it's been a ride.
Because of all this flux, some actors who were initially attached have moved on. Aaron Pierre is one of them, and Delroy Lindo is another. While Mahershala Ali is still set to star as Blade, and Mia Goth remains on board as the villain Lilith (and has even defended the delays, saying "they want to do it right"), it's clear this project has had its challenges.
Aaron Pierre Shares His Perspective on the Blade Departure
So, what exactly happened with Aaron Pierre? In an interview with Men's Health, Pierre got real about his time with the project. He confessed he felt "elated" when he was first cast in an undisclosed, but major, role back in February 2022. But then came the delays, the rewrites, and the shifting visions.
"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. It just took a different creative direction, and I was no longer a part of it. You have to accept that."
— Aaron Pierre to Men's HealthIt sounds like Pierre was attached to an earlier iteration of the story, possibly when it was conceived as that period piece. As the script evolved towards a contemporary setting, his character simply didn't fit anymore. It's a tough lesson for any actor, but Pierre's honesty about accepting the creative process is pretty refreshing.
A Green Light for the DC Universe's Exciting Lanterns Series
Luckily for Aaron, one door closing led to a much bigger one opening! Not long after his Blade exit, the revamped DC Universe came calling. James Gunn and Peter Safran, the architects of the new DCU, quickly snatched up Pierre for a pivotal role: John Stewart, the first Black Green Lantern. And get this, he'll be starring alongside Kyle Chandler, who plays the veteran Lantern, Hal Jordan, in the upcoming HBO series Lanterns.
This series, slated for an early 2026 release, isn't just another superhero show; showrunner Chris Mundy (known for his work on True Detective and Ozark) has teased it as "as much of a buddy cop show as a superhero show." It's expected to dive deep into the relationship between these two generations of Lanterns, focusing on themes of "replacement" – when to step aside and when it's time for the next person to take the reins.
Pierre's portrayal of John Stewart is already being highlighted for embodying "strength and fortitude," showing a character who "knows he belongs, so he doesn’t have to overcompensate." James Gunn himself has hinted that Lanterns will be "really important in setting up things" for the DCU's future, even teasing potential adaptations of major comic events like "Blackest Night."
Why This Superhero Switch-Up is a Major Career Win for Aaron Pierre
While missing out on a Marvel role might seem like a bummer to some, for Aaron Pierre, this pivot to DC is looking like an absolute home run. Think about it: Blade's future is still up in the air, potentially not hitting screens until 2028 at the earliest, if at all. Marvel's own Kevin Feige has admitted that Blade wasn't "insanely great" enough at the time to move forward, showcasing their new "only accept insanely great" philosophy.
"We didn’t want to simply just put a leather outfit on [Ali] and have him start killing vampires. It had to be unique. It fell into the time when we started pulling back and saying, ‘Only accept insanely great.’ And it wasn’t ‘insanely great’ at the time. We didn’t feel confident that we could do that on Blade, and we didn’t want to do that to Mahershala and didn’t want to do that to us.”
— Kevin Feige to VarietyMeanwhile, Lanterns has a clear path, a committed creative team, and a solid release window. Pierre is stepping into a central role in a newly rebooted, interconnected cinematic universe with big plans for its characters, including the Justice League. He's not just a supporting player; he's expected to be a founding member of the new Justice League, with whispers of appearances in upcoming films like the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow (slated for July 2027).
This isn't Pierre's first rodeo in the superhero world, either. He previously appeared in Syfy's Krypton series from 2018-2019. Beyond superheroes, his career is soaring, with a breakout role in Netflix's hit film Rebel Ridge (September 2024), voicing young Mufasa in Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), and an upcoming role in the Star Wars universe with Star Wars: Starfighter (May 2027). He's even been rumored for James Bond! Joining the DCU puts him squarely in the mainstream, potentially making him one of the few actors to be part of Marvel, DC, and Star Wars franchises.
What's Next for the MCU's Blade and DC's Lanterns?
For Blade fans, the wait continues. With Marvel focusing on massive projects like Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, the Daywalker's solo outing seems to be a lower priority. The earliest we might see it is potentially 2028, and it'll likely be a vastly different film from what was originally envisioned.
For Aaron Pierre and DC enthusiasts, the future is bright! Lanterns is set to debut in early 2026 on HBO (and presumably HBO Max). It’s poised to be a foundational piece of James Gunn's vision for the DCU, with Pierre's John Stewart at its core. It seems Pierre truly dodged a bullet and landed in an even better spot, cementing his status as a major player in the evolving landscape of superhero cinema.
Aaron Pierre opens up about being dropped from Marvel's Blade movie due to creative changes, and how he landed his exciting new role as DCU's Green Lantern John Stewart.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aaron Pierre's Superhero Roles
When is DC's Lanterns series releasing? The Lanterns series, starring Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler, is slated to premiere in early 2026 on HBO (and streaming on HBO Max in the US).
What is the DCU's Lanterns series about? Lanterns will follow Green Lanterns Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as they investigate a mystery that is central to the DC Universe's larger narrative. Showrunner Chris Mundy has described it as a "buddy cop show" meets superhero adventure, focusing on themes of legacy and "replacement."
Who is Aaron Pierre playing in Lanterns? Aaron Pierre is cast as John Stewart, a fan-favorite Green Lantern from the comics, known for his architectural background and strong sense of justice.
Is the MCU Blade movie still happening? Yes, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has confirmed that the Blade movie is still in development. However, it has been removed from the official release schedule and is undergoing extensive rewrites to ensure it meets a high "insanely great" standard. The earliest it might be released is speculated to be 2028.
Discover how Aaron Pierre transitioned from Marvel's troubled Blade movie to a starring role as John Stewart in the DCU's promising Lanterns series. Get all the details on both projects and what it means for the rising star's superhero future!
Sources
- Men's Health (for Aaron Pierre's direct quotes on Blade exit and Lanterns insights)
- Variety (for Kevin Feige's quotes on Blade's quality standards)
- Collider.com
- MovieWeb.com
- ScreenRant.com
- FandomWire.com
- ComicBookMovie.com
- The Direct