Ever since the announcement of Marvel Studios’ reboot of Blade was made at the San Diego Comic-Con 2019, fans have been waiting for the Mahershala Ali-led film. But, it seems like they will now have to wait longer, as Marvel has pushed the production date from September of this year to July 2022. It seems like the studio wants to take its time working on the script for the highly-anticipated flick.
Earlier this year, Watchmen series scribe Stacy Osei-Kuffour was brought on board to write the Blade script, making her the first Black female writer to pen a movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel is now on a hunt to find a director for the movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio wants a Black filmmaker to helm the project and is apparently looking through a list of names that is also being scanned by Warner Bros. for their upcoming Superman reboot, with a script that casts a Black Man of Steel.
While working on Netflix's Luke Cage, in which he portrayed the villain Cottonmouth, Oscar-winner Ali seemingly approached Marvel about wanting to take on the role of the heroic vampire. The film was confirmed in 2019 by Marvel president Kevin Feige himself, with Ali making a surprise appearance at Comic-Con to announce his involvement in the project. The role of the Daywalker was first portrayed by Wesley Snipes in the 1998 film.
In the course of six years, the Blade Trilogy had been released, with Blade: Trinity debuting in 2004. Created by New Line Cinema, the films shaped the way for comic-to-film adaptations, granting superheroes a space on the big screen. The character first appeared in the comics in July 1973, only to become one of the most appreciated heroes once the films released. Even though Blade is associated with Snipes, making it one of his most memorable roles, the actor has offered his full support for Ali’s casting in the Marvel reboot.
Currently titled Marvel Studios' Blade, The Vampire Slayer, it is unclear how the reboot will introduce the Daywalker into the MCU. The character wasn’t a typical superhero, with his superpower being his ability to walk in the daylight despite being part vampire, along with super strength.
It would require an extremely strong script to be able to incorporate vampires into the MCU if that is the path that Marvel intends to take. With Marvel now focusing on diversity, bringing in a unique hero into their fold shouldn't be an impossible task.
Blade will begin production under Marvel Studios in July 2022.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter