Marvel’s ‘Blade’ Remains in Growth Limbo as Cast and Crew Offer Glimpses of a Project “Unraveled”
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Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated Blade reboot continues to face notable hurdles,with updates remaining scarce despite ongoing development. Recent comments from actress Mia Goth shed light on teh film’s troubled production history, revealing a project that has undergone multiple iterations and faced significant delays.
Goth, known for her role in Frankenstein, detailed her involvement in early stages of the project, stating, “I was attached for a while, and it was a really engaging experience. It’s a project that’s been… evolving, I think is the best way to put it.It’s a really significant project for Marvel, and they’re taking their time with it,” Goth stated. “I think that they want to make it,and it’s such an important film for them that they’re taking their time with it. I really don’t have any information. I don’t know why it’s taken the time that it has, but we will see.”
From Period Piece to Modern Day: A Shifting Vision
The initial vision for Blade, announced in 2019, reportedly involved a period setting. goth revealed that costume pieces designed by Ruth carter for the project where ultimately repurposed for Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a vampire horror film set in the 1930s. She was rumored to portray Lilith, a key supernatural villain from the Blade comics. However, Marvel Studios head Kevin feige indicated this summer that the creative team has shifted its focus to a modern-day setting.
Feige acknowledged the film’s ongoing development and confirmed that Ali remains attached to star as the Daywalker, a role previously embodied by Wesley Snipes in a prosperous trilogy during the 1990s and early 2000s. Snipes himself recently made a cameo appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine. Feige revealed that four different versions of the film were explored,including two period pieces,before settling on the current direction.
A History of Delays and Departures
The path to bringing Blade to the big screen has been fraught with challenges. Marvel pulled the film from its planned 2025 release schedule late last year, citing delays stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 industry strikes. The project has also seen the departure of two directors: Bassam Tariq (Mogul Mowgli) and Yann Demange (Lovecraft country).
Feige explained the decision to pause production after the directors’ exits, stating, “We didn’t want to put a leather outfit on [Ali] and have him start killing vampires.” He further elaborated,”You can start and have a good script and make it a great script through production,but we didn’t feel confident we could do that on Blade. We didn’t want to do that to Mahershala and didn’t want to do that to us.”
Industry Insiders Echo Concerns
Other individuals connected to the project have voiced similar concerns. Delroy Lindo, an actor previously attached to the film in 2021, recently commented that the iteration he was involved with “just went off the rails.” Ali himself has largely avoided addressing questions about the project’s status. Despite the uncertainty, Goth expressed a sense of optimism, stating last year that those involved “really care, they do. They want to make a great movie. That’s the sense that I get from them and that feels good.”
Eric Pearson, known for his work on Agent Carter, Thor: Ragnarok, and Black widow, was reported to be penning the script as of 2024.
Despite the numerous setbacks, Marvel Studios appears committed to realizing its vision for Blade, though the timeline for its release remains unclear. The studio’s cautious approach suggests a determination to deliver a film that lives up to the legacy of the character and meets the expectations of its dedicated fanbase.
