The screenwriter behind the Blade trilogy starring Wesley Snipes has expressed his readiness to accept an offer from Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to assist in revitalizing Mahershala Ali's long-delayed MCU reboot.
The once highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe project has encountered numerous obstacles, but Blade now appears completely stalled with little indication of moving forward.
Last month, musician Flying Lotus shared on X/Twitter details about his involvement, revealing that the original version of Blade has been abandoned. "I guess we are so far from it even being a possibility now, but yeah, I was signed on to write music for the new BLADE movie before the project fell through," the artist, who recently directed Shudder's sci-fi horror film ASH, explained. "Maybe it'll come around again, but I doubt it. It would have been fun, though."
Just before Flying Lotus's comments, Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter confirmed during an interview on The John Campea Show that she was set to design costumes for Blade before production collapsed. She also revealed the film was planned to be set in the 1920s, which would have offered outstanding opportunities for costume and production design.
Actor Delroy Lindo, who was previously attached to co-star alongside Ali, also discussed the project's halt shortly before Carter's revelation.
"When Marvel approached me, they seemed genuinely interested in my input," he told Entertainment Weekly. "In my conversations with the producers, the writer, and the director at the time, everything pointed toward a collaborative process. The concept was thrilling, and the character development was promising. Then, for reasons unknown, it all fell apart."
Blade was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, and if development had proceeded smoothly, audiences would have been anticipating its release this November. The project has cycled through multiple directors, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, none of whom remained attached.
In a recent discussion with ScreenRant, David S. Goyer, the writer of the original Blade trilogy and director of Blade: Trinity, expressed his confusion over the delays.
“I would,” Goyer responded when asked if he'd be willing to write Marvel's Blade reboot. “I’ve always loved the character. I’ve been watching from the sidelines, wondering, ‘What’s happening? Why is it taking so long?’ As a devoted Marvel fan, I’m completely puzzled.”
It has been just seven months since Blade was removed from Marvel’s release calendar, and the studio has not yet announced a new release date. However, one month after the delay, Feige reaffirmed Marvel's commitment to the project.
"We are dedicated to Blade. We love the character and Mahershala's vision for him. Whenever we adjust our plans or reevaluate our schedule, we keep the audience informed. You have the latest information," he stated during an interview with Omelete in November 2024. "But I can assure you, the character will join the MCU."
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Meanwhile, the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine, which featured Snipes in a cameo as Blade, became a massive box office success, earning $1.3 billion worldwide. Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds has publicly advocated for a final film for Snipes' Blade, similar to Hugh Jackman's Logan.
Reynolds noted that the original Blade and its sequels helped create the modern superhero film genre, paving the way for franchises like X-Men and the MCU.
"There would be no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade leading the way," Reynolds posted on X/Twitter. "He’s the original Marvel icon. Let's make a Logan-style send-off happen."
Earlier this month, reports emerged that Reynolds is in the "early stages" of developing a Deadpool and X-Men crossover film. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Reynolds envisions an ensemble movie where Deadpool appears but doesn't dominate the story. Instead, he would share the narrative with three or four other X-Men characters, allowing them to be "utilized in surprising ways."
