Marvel’s attempt to reboot the Blade film series starring Mahershala Ali has encountered significant delays since its announcement in 2019. Despite the high profile of the Oscar-winning actor attached to the project, the studio appears to lack urgency in moving the film forward, as reported by Variety.
This Blade reboot delay follows years of developmental challenges, including multiple changes in screenwriters and directors. The production has struggled to finalize a script, with numerous revisions attempting to capture the right direction for the franchise’s revival.
Marvel’s Commitment to Crafting a Unique Vision
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has emphasized that the reboot is not meant to be a simple retread of past films. He explained that Marvel is deliberately avoiding just dressing the new Blade in a leather outfit and having him kill vampires as before. Instead, the goal is to create a fresh and distinct interpretation that stands apart from the Wesley Snipes originals.
“simply just put a leather outfit on him and have him start killing vampires,” —Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios President
Feige further noted the studio’s high standards for the screenplay, indicating that previous versions failed to reach what they consider an exceptional level.
“It fell into the time when we started pulling back and saying, ‘Only accept insanely great.’ And it wasn’t ‘insanely great’ at the time,”
he said. He added,
“We didn’t feel like, as we often do, you can have a good script and make it a great script through production. We didn’t feel confident that we could do that on Blade, and we didn’t want to do that to Mahershala and didn’t want to do that to us.”
“It fell into the time when we started pulling back and saying, ‘Only accept insanely great.’ And it wasn’t ‘insanely great’ at the time,” —Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios President
“We didn’t feel like, as we often do, you can have a good script and make it a great script through production. We didn’t feel confident that we could do that on Blade, and we didn’t want to do that to Mahershala and didn’t want to do that to us.” —Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios President
Past Appearances and Current Status of the Blade Franchise
Wesley Snipes, the original Blade, recently returned for a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, drawing attention back to the vampire hunter’s legacy. Meanwhile, Mahershala Ali has yet to appear on-screen as Blade but made a voice cameo in the post-credits scene of Eternals, hinting at his future role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Blade reboot was initially slated for a 2025 release, but it has since been delayed and removed from Marvel’s official schedule indefinitely. With Marvel entering Phase 6 of its cinematic universe, the reboot’s future remains uncertain as the studio prioritizes other projects.
Importance and Future Prospects of the Blade Reboot
This ongoing delay raises questions about Marvel’s approach to Blade, especially given Mahershala Ali’s acclaimed status and fans’ anticipation. The studio’s insistence on achieving a unique and outstanding script suggests they are unwilling to rush the project, although the lack of a set release date signals continued uncertainty. As Marvel’s slate for Phase 6 grows, the Blade reboot’s trajectory will depend heavily on when a satisfactory creative vision can finally be secured.
