The writer of the Wesley Snipes' Blade trilogy, David S. Goyer, has expressed his readiness to collaborate with Marvel chief Kevin Feige to help revive Mahershala Ali’s stalled MCU reboot of the iconic vampire hunter.
Blade, which was announced at San Diego Comic Con in 2019, has faced numerous setbacks and is currently at a standstill. The film, initially slated for a November release, has seen several directors come and go, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, without any progress.
Recent statements from individuals involved in the project have shed light on its uncertain future. Rapper and artist Flying Lotus revealed on X/Twitter that he was set to compose music for the film before its collapse. "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 it fell thru," he shared. He also mentioned directing the new sci-fi horror film ASH on Shudder, expressing doubt about the Blade project ever resuming.
Costume designer Ruth E. Carter, known for her work on Sinners, confirmed on The John Campea Show that she was initially tasked with designing costumes for Blade, which was to be set in the 1920s. This setting would have provided a unique backdrop for both costume and production design.
Actor Delroy Lindo, who was set to star alongside Mahershala Ali, discussed the project's demise with Entertainment Weekly. "When Marvel came to me, they seemed to be really interested in my input," he said. "And in the various conversations I had with producers, the writer, the director at the time, it was all leading into being very inclusive. It was really exciting conceptually, but it was also exciting in terms of the character that was going to form. And then, for whatever reason, it just went off the rails."
David S. Goyer, who penned all three films in the original Blade trilogy and directed Blade: Trinity, expressed his confusion and eagerness to contribute to the reboot. "I would," he told ScreenRant when asked if he would write Marvel’s Blade reboot. "I’ve always loved the character and I love him. I’ve been sitting on the sidelines wondering, ‘What in the world is going on? Why is it taking so long?’ Because I’m a huge Marvel fan myself, and I’ve just been totally puzzled."
Despite Blade being removed from Marvel's release schedule seven months ago, Kevin Feige remains committed to the project. In an interview with Omelete in November 2024, Feige stated, "We are committed to Blade. We love the character, we love Mahershala's take on him. And rest assured: whenever we change direction with a project, or are still figuring out how it fits into our schedule, we let the audience know. You're all up to date on what's happening. But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU."
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Meanwhile, the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine, which included a cameo by Wesley Snipes as Blade, was a massive success, grossing $1.3 billion globally. Ryan Reynolds, who plays Deadpool, has advocated for Snipes' Blade to receive a send-off film similar to Hugh Jackman's Logan.
Reynolds emphasized Blade's pivotal role in the superhero film genre, stating on X/Twitter, "There is no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade first creating a market. He’s Marvel Daddy. Please retweet for a Logan-like send-off."
Additionally, Reynolds is reportedly in the early stages of developing a Deadpool and X-Men movie, as per THR. This ensemble film would feature Deadpool alongside three or four other X-Men characters, with Reynolds wanting the other characters to take the spotlight and be "used in unexpected ways."
