BLADE Reboot Writer Responds To Report That Mahershala Ali Was Relegated To "Fourth Lead"

Yesterday, Variety published an exposé on Marvel Studios which highlighted some of the issues the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been experiencing as Phase 5 continues, and the report provided some insight into why there's been hardly any movement on the planned Blade reboot.

Marvel is believed to be having a tough time trying to nail the story down, and star Mahershala Ali is said to have been close to walking away from the project at one point due to frustrations with the script. Apparently, some early drafts saw Ali's new take on the Daywalker "relegated to third or fourth lead" in his own movie.

This would obviously be a very strange way to approach the reboot, but it sounds like Variety's report may not be entirely accurate.

According to writer/producer Michael Starburry, who worked on a draft of the Blade script prior to the Hollywood strikes, he never came across a version "where Blade was 4th lead or it was a narrative led by women and filled with life lessons." He does acknowledge that things could have changed when he left, but adds: "He was in almost every scene when I was involved. I don't know what happened but I'll just say I seriously doubt he was ever the 4th lead in any draft."

Marvel Studios reportedly plans to bring Blade in on a budget of $100 million or under. Oscar-nominated Logan writer Michael Green is the latest scribe to take a crack at the script, and, as far as we know, Yann Demange (who stepped in to replace Bassam Tariq earlier this year) is still on board to direct.

Given the violent nature of vampire-slaying hero, there's been some speculation that this reboot might join Deadpool 3 as the studio's first R-rated feature. However, while Blade is expected to be dark and gritty in tone, falling on the edgier side of Marvel fare, it sounds like the aim is still to bring it in at the usual PG-13/12.

What do you make of Starrbury's comments? Be sure to share your thoughts down below.