Back in July 2019, Kevin Feige announced that Marvel would be rebooting Blade with Mahershala Ali in the lead role. Production was planned to begin in November 2022 with a potential release date of November 3, 2023. However, not a single frame has been filmed yet. The only glimpse of Blade we’ve gotten in the MCU is Ali’s voice in the Eternals post-credits scene.
So it’s safe to say that the Blade reboot finds itself firmly lodged in production hell — a frustrating limbo where movies get delayed and face endless hurdles before finally coming to fruition, if they ever do. So, what’s keeping Blade from sinking its teeth into production? Here are all the reasons behind the delays.
Writers and Directors Keep Exiting the Project
Besides the initial COVID-related delays, the biggest thorn in Blade’s side has been the revolving door of writers and directors. The project started with Stacy Osei-Kuffour penning the script and Bassam Tariq directing, but Tariq exited the project after a year. Yann Demange then stepped in as the new director, with Michael Starrbury taking a crack at the script. In April 2023, Nic Pizzolatto joined the writing team, only to be replaced later that year by Michael Green for a complete script rewrite.
Currently, Eric Pearson — who is also occupied with the Fantastic Four script — is tackling the latest iteration of Blade. However, Demange has recently exited the project, leaving the movie without a director once again. As per Insiders’ report, Demange frustratingly departed from the film because development on the project had stretched over multiple years.
Why Has the Blade Script Gone Through So Many Rewrites?
The Blade movie is currently on its sixth scriptwriter. According to an insider, getting Blade right is much more important to Marvel Studios than releasing the film on schedule. The initial rewrites stemmed from the sheer weight of expectations surrounding the film. Blade is not just another solo movie; it’s poised as the launching pad for the Midnight Suns — a potential crossover franchise on par with the Avengers. So, Marvel needs to land an absolute slam dunk with the story of Blade to lead to Midnight Suns.
Mahershala Ali is Dead Set on Getting Blade Just Right
I think it’s time to state the unfortunate truth… Either Mahershala Ali walks away from BLADE or it gets canned. It’s been 4 years since this man was announced. Tons of writers have left and directors get replaced. Marvel has fumbled so HARD with this project 🤦🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/rBkTEXwQzz
— Movie Files (@MovieFilesLive) August 11, 2023
Mahershala Ali’s involvement in the project is both a blessing and a curse. Ali is deeply invested in the project and has a clear vision for the character. Back in 2023, an insider familiar with the script overhauls revealed that the story had morphed into a narrative led by women, filled with life lessons, and relegated Blade to the fourth lead in his own movie. Frustrated with this direction, Ali nearly walked away. This prompted Feige to bring in Michael Green for a complete rewrite.
However, Ali’s commitment has its limits. He hasn’t taken on any major projects in the last five years solely because he’s tied to Blade, which is seemingly going nowhere. Recently, his attorney, Shelby Weiser, commented, “That deal was in 2019, and they still haven’t shot it, which is pretty much the craziest thing in my professional experience.” Adding to the complexity, Ali is now confirmed for the upcoming Jurassic World sequel, which could cause further delays for Blade.
Should Marvel Just Shelf the Movie?
One could interpret the delays as a sign of meticulous care to ensure that the final product is a masterpiece. However, history is littered with movies that went through endless rewrites, only to end up as critical duds. The same thing happened with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness which ended up being one of the most disappointing movies in MCU history.
Given its ongoing issues, Blade may never see the light of day, especially as Marvel shifts focus towards Avengers: Secret Wars. Secret Wars will likely be a soft reboot of the entire MCU, in order to restore the former hype and detangle the convoluted mess that the MCU has become. If this pans out, introducing new franchises like Blade might be more feasible after the dust settles. Blade can be the first movie in a post-Secret Wars MCU that establishes a darker tone while setting up Midnight Suns. Plus, it would be better to release Blade later, when fans are more excited about Blade and the MCU as a whole. Also check out this terrible Fantastic Four movie that you may never want to see!
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