Marvel Just Set Up The MCU"s Most Controversial 2025 Release For The 7th Time In 3 Years

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Agatha All Along has made another reference to the MCU’s Blade, stoking further excitement for the R-rated Marvel movie. The MCU has been steadily introducing references to Blade and vampires throughout the MCU timeline, setting up the famed vampire hunter’s solo movie in the MCU. The latest setup for Blade comes from Agatha: All Along episode 4, fueling speculation and excitement about the MCU’s expanding supernatural universe.
What makes Blade particularly controversial is its intended R-rating, a rarity in the family-friendly MCU. This move marks a tonal shift for the cinematic universe, pushing it into darker, more adult territory, and raises questions about how Blade will fit within the wider franchise. Before Blade was officially announced, vampires had been alluded to in Thor: Ragnarok when Korg mentions a “vampire” on Sakaar, a throwaway line that in hindsight is a subtle precursor to further examples.
How Agatha All Along Episode 4 Sets Up Marvel's Blade Movie Lilia References Vampires

In Agatha: All Along episode 4, a key moment has sparked fresh discussion among fans about vampires in the MCU. During the episode, the witch Lilia casually references a healed vampire bite, confirming the existence of vampires within the MCU once again. This is more than just a passing mention; it adds layers to the vampire lore in the MCU and teases potential conflicts between witches and vampires.
The healed vampire bite raises several intriguing questions about the vampire lore within the franchise, and how this will fit with witches (and werewolves). This could establish an interesting dynamic between witches and vampires, possibly even setting up a future conflict between the supernatural factions. While it’s still unclear exactly how this will tie into Blade, it suggests that the world of magic and the world of vampires may be on a collision course.
Every Other Vampire Mention & Blade Movie Setup In The MCU Explained Close WandaVision The first direct reference to vampires in the MCU after Blade was announced came in WandaVision. In episode 6, the Halloween episode, Wanda meets a man purporting to be her brother, Peter. Wanda’s son, Tommy, casually mentions that his brother Billy is afraid that Uncle Peter might be a vampire.
This playful reference is part of a larger conversation but was especially notable considering Blade had recently been revealed as part of the MCU’s future. Though it’s unclear whether this was meant to foreshadow anything deeper or simply cast doubt on Peter’s identity, it laid the groundwork for vampires to have a more significant role in future MCU projects.
Loki Season 1 In Loki season 1, another reference to vampires came through Mobius, one of the TVA agents, during a conversation about the types of threats they’ve dealt with while pursuing Loki variants. Mobius casually lists off Kree, Titans, and vampires, implying that vampires are just another group of beings the TVA has had to handle at some point.
What made this line so significant is the casual way vampires are grouped with Kree and Titans, species that are already well-established in the MCU. By mentioning vampires in this context, it normalized their existence in the broader Marvel universe. It hinted that they may have already been present in the shadows long before Blade arrives to bring them into the spotlight.
Eternals Perhaps the most exciting setup for Blade came in Eternals, where the vampire hunter made his first official (though unseen) appearance. In Eternals’ post-credits scene, Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman is seen approaching the cursed Ebony Blade when a voice off-screen warns him, “Are you sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?” That voice was Mahershala Ali’s Blade, confirmed by director Chloé Zhao after the film’s release.
This was the first real confirmation that Blade exists in the MCU and that he’s already operating in the shadows. His conversation with Dane Whitman, who is destined to become the Black Knight, sets up a possible partnership between the two characters. The presence of the Ebony Blade, a cursed weapon with a history steeped in dark magic, aligns well with Blade’s world of vampires and supernatural threats, suggesting that these elements will be deeply intertwined in the future of the MCU.
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law She-Hulk: Attorney At Law episode 7 another vampire reference appeared, this time with the character Saracen, a vampire who joins a therapy circle with Jennifer Walters. Saracen was originally introduced in the comics in Blade: The Vampire Hunter #1 (1999), tying him directly to Blade’s world. Though played for comedic effect in She-Hulk, Saracen is the MCU’s first official vampire.
Saracen’s appearance is particularly interesting because it brings a comic character from Blade’s universe directly into the MCU, even if in a minor role. While the tone of She-Hulk is light and humorous, the inclusion of a vampire character tied to Blade helps cement him in the wider franchise. It also shows that vampires in the MCU aren’t limited to dark, brooding figures - they can exist in more comedic settings as well.
Werewolf By Night Werewolf By Night, Marvel’s black-and-white Halloween special, introduced another vampire reference. This was with the Nosferatu. The Nosferatu is based on Marvel’s early vampire characters from the comics and is closely connected with Dracula, the most infamous vampire in Marvel lore, who Blade frequently fought.
Werewolf by Night introduced the Nosferatu vampires, an ancient type of vampire that has only appeared in a handful of comics. Their appearance is a homage to the classic 1922 film of the same name, and in the 2001 Bloodstone series, the Nosferatu revealed themselves to be Dracula"s ancient rivals. They are Marvel"s oldest vampires and open the door for the introduction of Dracula, a character central to Blade’s comic book origins who is rumored as Blade’s antagonist.
Deadpool & Wolverine One of the more surprising setups for Blade came in Deadpool & Wolverine. Despite denying the rumors, Wesley Snipes, who famously portrayed Blade in the original Blade trilogy, made a cameo appearance. This was a fun nod to the multiverse, establishing that Blade already exists in other universes and that the MCU’s Blade, played by Mahershala Ali, is just one of many.
This marked Blade’s actual on-screen debut in the MCU. Fittingly, Deadpool & Wolverine was the MCU’s first R-rated movie, proving that a comic book movie aimed at more mature audiences can triumph ahead of Blade’s solo adventure. As a result, Blade seems even more primed to make a huge impact on the franchise with an adult-oriented, violent vampire romp.
What's Going On With Marvel's Blade Movie The MCU's Blade Has Been Beset With Many Delays

Blade with logo Despite the anticipation surrounding Blade, the movie has faced numerous challenges since its announcement. Initially slated for release in 2023, Blade has been delayed multiple times due to production issues, including the departure of its original director, Bassam Tariq, in 2022. Since then, the film has undergone several script rewrites and a change in direction, with Yann Demange (Lovecraft Country) now set to direct.
One of the biggest points of controversy surrounding Blade is its R-rating, which would make it one of the few MCU films to aim for a more adult audience. However, audiences have been vocal about wanting a darker, more violent version of Blade, true to his comic origins. Now set for a release in 2025, Blade has been teased extensively and promises to be a highly consequential installment in the franchise.

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8.7/10 Agatha All Along Agatha Harkness, after the events of "WandaVision," seeks to regain her magical powers. Joining forces with unexpected allies, including the son of an old adversary, she battles new mystical threats while uncovering hidden secrets in the magical realm.

Blade (2025) Marvel Studios' Blade sees the return of the iconic vampire hunter more than two decades after Wesley Snipes first played the character in live-action. Starring Mahershala Ali as Eric Brooks, the Blade reboot officially introduces vampires to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Eternals' second post-credits scene teased the Daywalker's MCU debut. Ali is accompanied by Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre in Yann Demange's 2024 dark superhero movie.
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