Everything We Know About Marvel’s Long-Delayed Blade

As a seasoned Marvel fan with over two decades of watching and waiting for every superhero flick that graced our screens, I can’t help but feel a sense of deja vu when it comes to the ongoing saga of Blade. It seems like we’re stuck in an endless loop of directors coming and going, scripts being rewritten, and release dates being pushed back.

“One blade of grass spoke to another, ‘Making dew on your own is quite challenging without someone in charge.’ This is one reason why Disney delayed the production of their upcoming Marvel film Blade. After initially hiring Bassam Tariq as director and later Yann Demange to replace him, Demange also left the project. Now, it seems that the release of our favorite daywalker’s movie has been removed from Marvel’s 2025 schedule, casting a shadow over its future.

Another director dusted

On June 11th, it was disclosed by The Wrap that Yann Demange is no longer attached to the ‘Blade’ project. This departure marks the second time a director has parted ways with this project. It was reported that their separation was friendly in nature.

Previously, it was reported that director Bassam Tariq’s departure from the ‘Blade’ project wasn’t due to creative disagreements but rather because of changes in the production schedule. On September 27, 2022, Marvel officially confirmed this to THR, stating: “Due to continued adjustments in our production timeline, Bassam is no longer set to direct ‘Blade’, but he will continue as an executive producer on the film.” Marvel also praised Tariq’s contribution, saying, “We value his talent and all the efforts he put into getting ‘Blade’ ready for where it stands now.” Tariq himself released a statement, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to work with Marvel on the project.

How can Blade be the fourth lead of Blade?

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I’m excited to share some intriguing updates about an upcoming project. Initially, Nic Pizzolatto was tasked with penning the script for this highly anticipated film. However, Michael Green stepped in and took over the reins from him. More recently, Eric Pearson has been assigned the duty of further refining the script. It’s important to note that Stacy Osei-Kuffour was initially announced as the sole writer back in 2021.

As per a report published by Variety in November 2023, the upcoming movie has faced issues such as frequent script revisions and a lack of clear creative guidance. Remarkably, one version of the film appears to shift its focus away from its primary attraction, the double Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali. In this alternate narrative, Ali’s role is reduced to being the fourth lead in a female-centric story that offers valuable life lessons.

So where does that leave Mahershala Ali?

In December 2023, Ali shared with Entertainment Weekly that he felt genuinely optimistic regarding the project’s progress, considering those involved and steering the ship for scriptwriting, direction, and more. At that time, Marvel was planning to produce this movie at a relatively modest budget of $100 million, which marked an effort to reduce the enormous budgets typically associated with quarter-billion dollar productions, necessitating substantial box office success — essentially, an independent film, but from the Marvel universe.

Who’s (still) in the cast?

Mahershala Ali steps into the role of Blade, the vampire slayer famously portrayed by Wesley Snipes before him. Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, and Delroy Lindo were initially set to join the cast, though their characters have yet to be specified. However, on March 16, it was revealed that Aaron Pierre will no longer be a part of the upcoming film’s cast, as the project has undergone changes since its inception.

When is it coming out?

It appears that the production timeline for “Blade” has undergone changes. Initially, it was planned to commence in November 2022, with a release date set for November 3, 2023. However, due to the new team taking over, Disney needed some additional time. As a result, the film was moved to a release on November 7, 2025, placing it within Marvel’s phase six plans. However, Deadline reports that “Predator: Badlands” will now take that release date, and “Blade” has been taken off Marvel’s 2025 calendar. According to Forbes, filming for “Blade” is yet to begin.

2019 saw the announcement of the film as part of Marvel’s Phase Four, with rumors suggesting multiple revisions to the original script by Stacy Osei-Kuffour. It was then reported that Beau DeMayo stepped in for script rewrites. The character of Blade, played by Ali, made a surprise appearance in the post-credits scene of “Eternals,” securing his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ahead of schedule. However, it seems that production delays and leadership from Kevin Feige may have posed unexpected challenges for the film.

2024-10-23 02:54