Marvel Studios first announced a Blade reboot starring Mahershala Ali as the iconic vampire hunter Eric Brooks during the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, generating excitement among fans of the original Blade comics and the beloved Wesley Snipes trilogy. However, five years on, the project has been plagued with numerous delays and setbacks. The latest blow comes with the departure of its second director, Yann Demange.
Demange, known for his work on “Lovecraft Country,” has amicably parted ways with Marvel Studios. This marks another hurdle for the Blade reboot, which has struggled to maintain consistency since its inception. Unlike other meticulously crafted Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects, Blade has faced a disjointed development process.
Writer’s Room in Turmoil
The Blade reboot’s script has seen multiple rewrites, an unusual scenario for an MCU film. Since its announcement in 2019, the film has lost two directors and has had difficulty finalizing its script. Veteran Marvel writer Eric Pearson is the latest to take on the script, following departures of Nic Pizzolatto and Michael Green. The difficulty in creating a satisfactory script for a relatively straightforward plot—a vampire hunter avenging his mother’s death—has been a notable misstep for Marvel Studios.
Mahershala Ali’s sole portrayal of Blade to date was a brief post-credit voice cameo in the 2021 film “Eternals.” Despite this, the reboot has not progressed significantly in the subsequent years.
Uncharacteristic Delays for Marvel
Marvel Studios, renowned for its detailed and interconnected cinematic universe since 2008’s “Iron Man,” has uncharacteristically faltered with Blade. The studio has successfully released 13 MCU films since the Blade reboot was announced. By the time Blade potentially starts filming, this number will have increased to 14 with the upcoming “Deadpool & Wolverine” movie.
The repeated delays raise concerns about whether Ali, now 50, will remain attached to the project. His casting was widely celebrated, but the continuous setbacks may prompt reconsideration. To address these issues, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently brought on Michael Green, writer of “Logan,” to draft a new script. However, Green’s subsequent departure leaves the project in further uncertainty.
Production Timeline and Future Prospects
Despite these challenges, Blade is tentatively set to begin filming in Fall 2024, aiming for a release date of November 7, 2025. With several months before production, Marvel has some time to stabilize the project and secure a new director. However, another delay seems likely given the current situation.
The Importance of Blade’s Origin Story
Blade, who last appeared on screen 20 years ago, might be unfamiliar to younger Marvel fans. A well-crafted origin story could reintroduce this character effectively. The original Blade trilogy, starring Wesley Snipes, is available for streaming on Amazon Prime and Apple TV, offering insights into Blade’s backstory and his battle against vampires.
Blade, born Eric Brooks, has a complex origin. His father, Lucas Cross, a member of the secret society Order of Tyrana, instructed his pregnant lover, Tara, to seek refuge in England. There, Tara encountered complications and was attacked by the vampire Deacon Frost during childbirth, transferring enzymes to the newborn Eric, making him a half-human, half-vampire hybrid. Raised as an orphan, Eric was trained by vampire hunter Jamal Afari, dedicating his life to avenging his mother and eradicating vampires. Blade’s unique hybrid physiology grants him superhuman abilities without typical vampire vulnerabilities, making him a formidable adversary to the undead.
Conclusion
Marvel Studios must address the Blade reboot’s ongoing issues to ensure Mahershala Ali’s portrayal of the iconic vampire hunter comes to fruition. As fans eagerly await Blade’s return to the big screen, Marvel must stabilize the project to avoid further delays and capitalize on the character’s rich history.
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