Marvel Studios announced it was developing a Blade reboot during a memorable Hall H panel at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con. Mahershala Ali hit the stage to close out the panel alongside Kevin Feige, confirming he would play the MCU's Daywalker in a moment which broke the internet.
The pandemic followed, as did a voice cameo in Eternals, but development on the reboot has since hit more than a few stumbling blocks. Blade has lost several creatives, with original director Bassam Tariq leaving over "creative differences."
In terms of writers, Eric Pearson is penning the latest draft after Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Beau DeMayo, Michael Starrbury, Nic Pizzolatto, and Michael Green all took a crack at the screenplay.
Yesterday evening, the reboot was health another blow when the news broke that filmmaker Yann Demange is no longer helming Blade.
According to Jeff Sneider, Ali is said to have grown frustrated with the director; while he's considered a talent behind the camera, the report claims Demange is also "difficult to work with."
The scooper adds that he and Marvel Studios parted ways in March; Kevin Feige is said to have been searching for a writer and director ever since, though it could be that they'll eventually get the same person to do both.
The last we heard, Blade will be a grounded, gritty take on the character rather than an effects-laden blockbuster which runs the risk of feeling like more of the same from Marvel Studios. Demange previously confirmed it will be R-Rated and we can't imagine that's changed.
"We’re working on it. That’s the best I could tell you," Ali said of the project last December following reports he'd considered leaving the movie. "I’m really encouraged with the direction of the project. I think we’ll be back at it relatively soon."
"I’m sincerely encouraged in terms of where things are at and who’s on board and who’s leading the way as far as the writing of the script and the directing and all that," the actor added. "So that’s the extent of what I can tell you."
While some feel Blade is cursed, the movie did get caught up in the pandemic and last year's Hollywood strikes, so the fact it's yet to materialise isn't too surprising. Still, it's hard not to be a little concerned, particularly as it's been close to half a decade since Marvel Studios announced it!
Needless to say, we expect Blade to miss its planned November 7, 2025 release date.