At the dawn of all that was good about Marvel Cinema, there was Blade. Wesley Snipes’ portrayal of the daywalking half-vampire in the 1998 film set the stage for the studio’s cinematic ventures, grossing $131.2 million worldwide and spawning two sequels. If Blade had failed, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) might never have emerged.
Fast forward to 2019, when Marvel Studios announced that Mahershala Ali, a two-time Oscar winner, would revive the character in the MCU. However, the journey to bring Blade back has been fraught with challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, two major guild strikes, multiple release date changes, and the turnover of directors and screenwriters. Despite these hurdles, Marvel remains committed to the project, with Ali still set to star. Here’s a detailed timeline of the key developments:
July 20, 2019: Marvel Studios Announces “Blade” Reboot
At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige unveiled the Blade reboot during his blockbuster presentation. Mahershala Ali appeared on stage, wearing a baseball cap with the Blade logo, to announce his involvement. Ali had pitched himself for the role after hearing about Marvel’s plans to reboot the franchise.
February 5, 2021: Stacy Osei-Kuffour Hired as Screenwriter
Stacy Osei-Kuffour, known for her work on HBO’s Watchmen and her Emmy-nominated writing for Hulu’s Pen15, was tapped to write the screenplay.
July 19, 2021: Bassam Tariq Joins as Director
Bassam Tariq, best known for the 2020 film Mogul Mowgli starring Riz Ahmed, was signed on to direct the reboot.
November 5, 2021: Ali’s First Performance as Blade in “Eternals”
In an end-credits scene of Eternals, Mahershala Ali made his first appearance as Blade, albeit only through a voice cameo, interacting with Kit Harington’s character, Dane Whitman.
November 19, 2021: Delroy Lindo Joins the Cast
Veteran actor Delroy Lindo, known for his roles in Da 5 Bloods and The Harder They Fall, joined the cast in an undisclosed role.
February 22, 2022: Aaron Pierre Joins the Cast
Aaron Pierre, who gained acclaim in Barry Jenkins’ The Underground Railroad, signed on for an unspecified role.
July 23, 2022: Official Release Date Announced
At San Diego Comic-Con, Feige announced that Blade would begin filming in October and premiere on November 3, 2023.
September 27, 2022: Bassam Tariq Exits as Director
Two months before filming was set to begin, Tariq stepped down as director, citing scheduling conflicts.
October 11, 2022: Release Date Pushed to 2024
Marvel Studios rescheduled Blade to September 6, 2024, as part of a wider shift in its release calendar.
November 21, 2022: New Director and Screenwriter Announced
Yann Demange was brought on to direct, and Michael Starrbury was hired to write a new script. Demange is known for his work on Top Boy and Lovecraft Country, while Starrbury has credits on When They See Us.
February 14, 2023: Feige Provides Update on Production
Feige told Entertainment Weekly that production would begin in roughly 10 weeks, indicating progress on the project.
April 12, 2023: Mia Goth Joins the Cast
Mia Goth, who had a standout year in 2022 with “X” and Pearl, joined the cast in an undisclosed role.
April 28, 2023: Nic Pizzolatto Signs On as Screenwriter
Nic Pizzolatto, known for his work on True Detective, was hired to write the screenplay just before the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike began.
May 5, 2023: Pre-Production Halted Due to Writers Strike
Production was paused due to the ongoing WGA strike.
June 13, 2023: Release Date Moved to 2025
With the writers and actors strikes looming, Disney moved Blade to February 14, 2025.
November 1, 2023: Michael Green Becomes New Screenwriter
Following dissatisfaction with earlier drafts, including one that had Blade as a secondary character, Marvel hired Logan screenwriter Michael Green.
November 9, 2023: Further Release Date Delay
Marvel pushed Blade to November 7, 2025, as part of a broader reshuffling post-strikes.
December 6, 2023: Ali Expresses Optimism
Ali expressed his encouragement about the project’s direction, highlighting progress in scripting and directorial leadership.
March 17, 2024: Aaron Pierre Exits the Project
Aaron Pierre confirmed his departure from Blade, as early conversations did not materialize into a role.
June 12, 2024: Yann Demange Exits, Eric Pearson Joins as Screenwriter
Demange exited quietly, while Eric Pearson, known for his work on Black Widow and Thor: Ragnarok, was hired as the new screenwriter, marking the sixth writer for the project.
Despite numerous setbacks, the Blade reboot continues to inch forward, with Marvel Studios determined to bring the iconic character back to the big screen.
June 14, 2024: Mahershala Ali’s Attorney Comments On The MCU Blade Movie’s Delays
In a new feature, via THR, Ali’s attorney, Shelby Weiser, briefly mentions the Blade movie with her client. Weiser says the situation with the “Blade” reboot is “the craziest thing” she has experienced in her career. She said the following:
That deal was in 2019, and they still haven’t shot it, which is pretty much the craziest thing in my professional experience.
June 16, 2024Former ‘Blade’ actor Wesley Snipes throws shade on Marvel delays
The 61-year-old actor, who played the titular vampire hunter throughout the original film trilogy, is clearly staying up to date on the latest news from the MCU. Following the announcement that the film has lost its director for the second time, Snipes didn’t hesitate to get snarky on social media.
“Blade, lordylordylordy,” Snipes wrote Saturday on X (formerly Twitter). “Folks still lookin for the secret sauce, ridin snowmobiles in traffic, kinda rough.”
