As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues its never-ending expansion, it seems like no one working in film today can escape a job in the franchise. Every movie star will eventually fit into the continuity, every big director will eventually craft a part of it. The latest new voice in the superhero movie industry is Yann Demange, who's set to direct Blade.
The return of the Daywalker to Marvel's onscreen efforts has been one of the moments fans have looked forward to for years. Though this will be Demange's first foray into full-on action blockbuster cinema, the rest of his career is unique and interesting.
Yann Demange was born in Paris and raised in London. His father was Algerian, and, when he was fourteen, he traveled to meet his extended family in the small North African nation. Algeria went to war with France in the 50s, a conflict that was beautifully captured in Gillo Pontecorvo's 1966 film The Battle of Algiers. The film famously starred non-actors in almost every key role. Demange's aunt had a role in the film, and that fact led young Yann to a lifelong fascination with the art of filmmaking. He started his career at 18, working on music video sets and making documentaries for GE. Demange attended college on a scholarship from Disney and started his career as a director only 15 years ago.
Yann Demange's first project as director came in 2007 when he directed several episodes of BBC's Secret Diary of a Call Girl. The show followed Doctor Who star Billie Piper as a high-end escort who must navigate the unique sexual politics of her life and career. The show was celebrated for its solid writing and excellent lead performance. It's frequently compared to the long-running hit series Sex and the City for its sense of humor. Demange directed the first four episodes of the series, all of which premiered to excellent viewership. Demange's next project was Dead Set, a zombie horror series that took place during a fictional season of the reality show Big Brother. The miniseries was created and written by Black Mirror scribe Charlie Brooker, but Demange directed all five episodes. Dead Set was a fascinating reality TV parody and an excellent horror series that demonstrate Demange's skill with both genres. He went on to direct the first series of the well-received crime show Top Boy. Demange's TV career is both varied and celebrated, but he's also well-known for his cinematic efforts.
In 2014, Yann Demange made his feature-film directorial debut with the groundbreaking historical thriller'71. Demange's first film won him the Best Director prize at the British Independent Film Festival. The film tells the tale of a young British soldier who finds himself alone in a Belfast riot during The Troubles. Critics loved '71, and his direction was highly praised by countless well-known voices. The cast made use of a cadre of respected and prolific character actors, rather than big stars. Demange demonstrated his immense talent as an action filmmaker with '71, and though his second feature film, White Boy Rick is less well-received, it's still a solid crime drama. Blade will be Demange's third film project as director, but he does have one other project under his belt.
Yann Demange returned to TV in 2020 to direct the premiere of Lovecraft Country. This HBO series was tragically canceled after its first season, but the first episode was celebrated as the potential start of something brilliant. The show is an adaptation of Matt Ruff's 2016 novel, which explores the unpleasant connection between Lovecraftian cosmic horror and racism in the United States. It's in conversation with Lovecraft's notorious racism and his celebrated history as a horror pioneer. Demange didn't return to handle the rest of the series, but his episode is excellent. "Sundown" set the tone for the rest of the series, establishing Lovecraft Country as a gripping dramatic horror story that deviates from the book in many interesting ways. Demange's contribution to this underrated series feels more like a short film than an episode of television, and it's a solid exploration of the show's themes.
Yann Demange is clearly a talented filmmaker with a ton of interesting projects behind him. He's demonstrated that he can direct action, horror, social commentary, and much more. He's an excellent choice for the upcoming Blade reboot, but he's clearly got more than Marvel to look forward to. When a director joins a big franchise like the MCU, the rest of their career is often unfairly overlooked. Yann Demange is a great director who will likely go on to a lot of new and interesting projects in the future. Rest assured, Blade fans, the new entry is in good hands and the director has already demonstrated all the skills he'll need to bring the character back in a big way.
