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Mahershala Ali’s film Blade is back on the track.
It’s been more than three years since Marvel Studios revealed plans to make a new film. It involves the award-winning Ali playing the role of the fan favorite half-human, half-vampire hero.
Originally, the studio planned to begin filming this fall. However, original filmmaker Bassam Tariq dropped out of the project in September, months before the film began production.
EW recently reported that the production has found a new director – Lovecraft Country’s Yann Demange.
Demange is known for directing thriller films like ’71 and White Boy Rick. In addition, he recently directed the pilot episode of HBO’s Lovecraft Country. The film stars Jurnee Smollett and Jonathan Majors.
Furthermore, Demange will take on the role of executive director on the show.
After Tariq left the production, Marvel halted production of Blade. Instead, the studio focused on getting the story as right as possible and finding the best collaborators for the filmmakers.
Eventually, the studio got its new director in Demange. The director will direct a new screenplay written by Michael Starrbury.
In particular, Starrbury was nominated for an Emmy for his contribution to Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us.
The film’s production is set to begin in Atlanta next year. And Blade is expected to hit theaters on September 6, 2024.
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First Move
The studio originally planned to release Blade in 2023, positioning it as one of Marvel’s Phase 5 steps. However, future developments will determine whether Blade continues to fall into the Phase 5 film category. Therefore, details regarding the new release date are not yet known.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe sometimes dives deep into the horror genre, specifically with this year’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Werewolf by Night.
However, the most recent Blade film is reportedly darker and eerier than what Marvel previously offered. As a result, fans will see Ali make his onscreen debut as the titular character.
But the MCU already heard his voice. In one of the end credits for Eternals, he talks to Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman.
Blade Adaptations
Blade is a fictional character made by Marvel Comics. Marv Wolfman and penciler Gene Colan served as his creators.
The character initially appeared in the comic book The Tomb of Dracula #10 (1973) as a supporting character. Later, he starred in his own storylines.
Blade uses his one-of-a-kind physiology to be the greatest vampire hunter. Although he was originally portrayed as a human immune to the bites of vampires, the adaptations later introduced Blade as a dhampir. This came after he was adapted in Spider-Man: The Animated Series and Blade film series.
Moreover, he is the father of Fallon Grey.
In the movies Blade, Blade II, and Blade: Trinity, Wesley Snipes played the character, while Sticky Fingas portrayed the character in Blade: The Series. Furthermore, J.D. Hall voiced the character in Spider-Man: The Animated Series, and Terry Crews in Ultimate Spider-Man and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.
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