Earlier today, we brought you details on Blade's difficult production process. While the reboot remains dated for next November, it currently has no director and, unless work begins soon, it will almost certainly be pushed into 2026.
Marvel Studios also needs to bear in mind that Blade now has a reputation as being a "troubled" movie. Should it be even remotely disappointing, critics going all-in on the long-delayed project and questioning "where it all went wrong" (something we saw with 2023's DCEU offerings) is inevitable.
The Hollywood Reporter has shared a few more pieces of intel today, confirming reports that the version of Blade which was on track to shoot last year was a period piece set in the 1920s.
Mia Goth (MaXXXine) had been tapped to play a vampire villain named Lilith who was on the hunt for the blood of Blade's daughter. While things have changed since then - the current plan is to set it in the present day - Goth is still attached to star.
As for Blade's daughter, Brielle Brooks on the page, it's unclear whether she's still set to make her MCU debut.
When original director Bassam Tariq was still attached, Marvel Studios built a massive train set for an action sequence which they never ended up using. Now, it's expected to be passed on to a different Disney production.
Still, while none of this sounds overly positive, it will seemingly take more a few setbacks - and several million dollars - to plunge a stake into Blade's heart:
"It is unclear how many millions Marvel has spent on Blade, counting the development and pre-production costs. But it’s not stopping now. Marvel has learned in recent years that it does not pay to be rushed into production. And the studio prides itself on having a high development-to-production ratio, something that eludes most other companies. The new plan calls for the script to be written over the summer and then go out to directors."
Interestingly, almost all of the information shared by the trade lines up with what we've been hearing from social media scoopers since 2022 (proving those rumours we so often share are credible).
"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."
Needless to say, it's looking increasingly unlikely that Blade will meet its planned November 7, 2025 release date.