The Air Jordan 5 "Black Cat" Has Nine Lives After All

Written off in 2024, the Anthracite-toned Air Jordan 5 "Black Cat" is reportedly back on the books for 2027. Here's the full release timeline, what's confirmed, and the first look at what it could bring to shelves — updated as we get it.

Update — September 5, 2026

Yes — the Air Jordan 5 "Black Cat" retro is happening after all. The "Anthracite/Black/Off Noir" pair was originally slated for Jordan Brand's Holiday 2024 lineup before it was scrapped by that September. Jordan Brand never addressed the cancellation directly, but it fanned the flames anyway by retroing the Air Jordan 4 "Black Cat" — the 2006 original that gave the tonal, all-black treatment its name across the line.

Sourcing points to SKU FZ2239-001 for the AJ5, though whether that number will carry over to an eventual Fall 2027 release remains unconfirmed. Official word from Nike and Jordan Brand hasn't landed — we'll update this page as soon as it does.

Update — September 12, 2024

Sole Retriever first reported it, and it's now confirmed: the Air Jordan 5 "Black Cat" (Anthracite) is one of several pairs pulled from Jordan Brand's Holiday 2024 slate. No new release date has been set.

Original Story — January 27, 2024

The "Black Cat" name carries weight in Jordan history — it's one of Michael Jordan's own nicknames, and Jordan Brand has leaned on it for a run of all-black retros, including the Air Jordan 3 and Air Jordan 4 (the AJ3 version is expected to follow in 2025). Each one trades color for a stealthier finish, and the Air Jordan 5 looks set to join that lineage.

Nothing official yet on the AJ5's look, but early details from zSneakerheadz and Sneaker Files point to an Anthracite, Black, and Off Noir build—a tonal blackout rather than a true head-to-toe black, based on the mock-ups circulating so far.

The renders carry the treatment through the whole shoe: nubuck upper, mesh underlays at the eyelets and heel, a lace-toggle closure, and the "23" hit stitched into the forefoot rather than called out in a contrasting color.

For every other Jordan release on the way, our Air Jordan Release Calendar. has the full rundown.