Fans of the vampire hunter Blade may have to wait a little longer to see him on the big screen again. Marvel Studios has reportedly paused production in order to find a new director.
Blade was previously directed by Bassam Tariq, who stepped down due to “continued shifts” in the production schedule but stayed on as an executive producer just two months before filming began. This is the second Blade adaptation from Marvel Studios; the first was a trilogy starring Wesley Snipes in the title role that ran from 1998 to 2004. Blade: The Series, which aired on Spike TV for 13 episodes in 2006, was also set within this continuity.
Production on the new Blade film
According to The Hollywood Reporter, production on the new Blade film (set in the MCU) has been halted while the studio searches for a new director. The project, which stars Mahershala Ali, was supposed to start filming in November. On Tuesday, crew members were reportedly informed that production would be delayed until early 2023. THR notes that because the Blade release date is currently set for November 3, 2023, the film is unlikely to be ready by then. Unfortunately for the character’s fans, this almost certainly means that the release date will have to be pushed back. The most likely scenario is that the film will be released in 2024.
With reports that Blade is undergoing a complete script overhaul, it’s easy to assume that the film is having production issues. However, according to THR sources, the studio wants to “really get it right.” The studio appears to be willing to invest the time required to create a Blade film worthy of the character’s fans. Ali’s casting adds to the project’s credibility. Ali is likely to do the project justice as a fantastic, Oscar-winning actor.
However, some people are likely to be concerned about Blade until it hits theaters. The post-Avengers: Endgame films, which are part of the MCU’s Phase 4, have felt aimless. Some believe that the MCU has floundered in the absence of an overarching storyline. Hopefully, Marvel Studios will have resolved that issue by the time Blade hits theaters. Blade works well as a standalone character regardless, so he may not require many connections to the larger universe.
