Under Ryan Coogler’s direction, Sinners has been a big hit in 2025. Michael B. Jordan plays twin brothers fighting vampires in 1930s Mississippi Delta in the horror movie. With a worldwide gross of over $364 million it’s the 8th highest grossing film of the year and the only original film in the top 10. 97% of critics and 96% of audiences love it. But until now many didn’t know that the costumes from Sinners were originally for Marvel’s Blade reboot which has been stuck in development hell for years.
Here’s how it went down. For Blade, costumes were designed by Oscar winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter who is known for her work on Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. At San Diego Comic-Con in 2019 the reboot was announced with Mahershala Ali as the vampire hunter. The movie was set in the 1920s which was similar to Sinners’ 1930s setting. Carter spent months creating and studying costumes from the era, stocking a warehouse with items like leather boots, lace trimmed shirts and velvet coats.
The movie however hit a number of roadblocks: directors Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange dropped out, the 2023 writers and actors strikes slowed down progress and Marvel pulled the movie from its November 2025 release date. Carter was left with a warehouse full of unused costumes since Blade wasn’t moving forward.Meet Ryan Coogler and Sinners. Coogler was set to direct his vampire thriller after working with Carter before. Carter got the pitch from his wife Zinzi who is a producer on Sinners.
Carter knew her Blade costumes which were for a 1920s vampire movie would be perfect. “I had been in that space for a long time preparing Blade and Blade wasn’t going to happen so I thought, ‘Let me hear it’,” she told the John Campea Show. Marvel was kind enough to sell the costumes to Sinners at cost. “We had to shoot this movie tomorrow and Ruth had a warehouse full of period clothes,” said Sev Ohanian, a producer on Sinners on the ScreenCrush podcast.
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Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku and other main actors in Sinners wore bespoke costumes for their roles. Jordan’s twin brothers Smoke and Stack for example have different looks: Smoke wears light linen layers, Stack wears darker and heavier. Wunmi Mosaku’s character Annie’s head wraps and aprons are adorned with spiritual symbols from the Hoodoo tradition. But thanks to the Blade costumes worn by many background performers in Sinners, we got a glimpse of what the Marvel movie could have been like. Ohanian called it a “fun Marvel Easter egg”.
Everyone knows how the Blade reboot is doing. The project has been delayed since 2019. The script was rewritten several times and directors dropped out due to creative differences. Despite a great plot about a Marcus Garvey like character leading a Black community, Delroy Lindo who was previously attached to Blade said the project “went off the rails”.
At the Jurassic World Rebirth premiere where Mahershala Ali is still attached to play Blade he recently told Variety “I’m ready. Call Marvel”. According to rumors the latest iteration of Blade may have switched from the 1920s concept to the present. “We love Mahershala’s version of him” says Kevin Feige head of Marvel Studios who says the character will eventually be part of the MCU.
In the meantime Sinners is getting cultural traction. Because of its 1930s setting, great plot and performances it’s a standout. The costumes are key. Carter’s designs combine supernatural and Southern Gothic. The vampires wear worn out suits and cloaks that look like they’ve been around for centuries, while Grace one of the human characters played by Li Jun Li combines Chinese American and Mississippi influences.
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Carter’s use of narrative elements in his work has been praised with details like tattered materials and Haint Blue hues adding to the environment.Despite the demand for a Sinners sequel, Coogler told The Hollywood Reporter the film was meant to be a standalone. “I wanted to make something complete” he said leaving room for more. Sinners is on Max and it’s proving original stories can compete with big franchises. The future of Blade is still up in the air but the costumes are still living in the strange vampire world of Sinners.
Hollywood can turn obstacles into opportunities. Here’s an example. A clip from the movie is in the background of Sinners as Blade fans wait for updates. It’s a reminder of the ingenuity and teamwork that goes on behind the scenes even when things don’t work out.
Source: Deadline
Mark Phury is a dynamic sports enthusiast with a knack for capturing the thrill of the game. With 3 years at Hindustan Times, he delivers sharp, engaging stories that resonate with fans. Reach him at markphury@gmail.com for insights that score every time.