The production of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Blade movie seems to be perpetually stalled. It appears that the reboot of Blade is essentially back at the starting point, as the film has lost its director for the second time.
The reboot was initially announced five years ago in 2019. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige introduced Mahershala Ali as the new Blade and even presented him with a Blade cap. Since Ali’s surprising introduction, the project has gone through two directors, with the first, Bassam Tariq, departing in September 2022.
Tariq’s exit postponed the production, which had been slated to begin in the fall of 2022. Reports indicate that Ali personally selected Yann Demange, known for his work on Lovecraft Country, to take over the project. Additionally, industry-wide SAG-AFTRA strikes contributed to further delays.
According to an exclusive report by The Wrap, Demange’s departure was “entirely amicable.”
Currently, Eric Pearson, one of Marvel’s top screenwriters, is working on the Blade script. Previous drafts were penned by Michael Starrbury, Nic Pizzolatto, and Michael Green.
Despite the setbacks, Mahershala Ali remains committed to the project, set to portray the half-human vampire hunter.
Insiders suggest that ensuring the Blade movie’s quality is paramount, rather than rushing its release. Marvel Studios is in no hurry to release the film, given its strategy to launch two movies per year.
The studio’s next four movies, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts,” and “Fantastic Four,” are either completed or nearing completion.
During Marvel Studios’ early years, the Blade movies were crucial to its success. Thus, the production team is now tasked with creating a film that surpasses all expectations.
