Key Takeaways:
– Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, confirms the studio's dedication to the upcoming Blade project with Mahershala Ali.
– The film has encountered numerous setbacks and delays, leading to frustration among the team and fans.
– Feige dispelled rumours regarding Wesley Snipes' involvement, emphasizing that Ali's Blade is the focal point of the new film.
– The current writer of the script is Eric Pearson, with Ali and Mia Goth attached to the film set for release on November 7, 2025.
The Blade Comeback: Mahershala Ali Dons the Mantle
In the wake of the Wesley Snipes' Blade trilogy, Marvel Studios reclaimed the character rights and began developing a script in 2013. Come 2019, Marvel chief Kevin Feige announced the Blade reboot, featuring Mahershala Ali as the titular vampire slayer at San Diego Comic-Con. The production journey hasn't been a smooth sail, however, with several changes in scriptwriters and directors.
Marvel's Unwavering Dedication to Ali's Blade
Despite the production challenges, Kevin Feige reassured fans of Marvel's dedication to the project in a recent interview with Blavity's Shadow and Act. Explaining the frustratingly slow progress for the project, Feige said, “We are committed to the movie, and we're so committed to it that we're not going to make it until it's right.” He intimated that a new scriptwriter is at work and has seen half of the draft, which is shaping up well.
A Firm No to Wesley Snipes' Involvement?
On being queried about Wesley Snipes' potential cameo, Feige clarified that the new Blade venture is centered around Ali's portrayal of the character. Feige acknowledged Snipes' excellence as an actor while simultaneously emphasizing Ali's prolonged commitment to the Blade reboot.
Transition in the Blade Franchise
Wesley Snipes' incarnation of Blade began in the 1998 film, which turned out to be a surprising success, and arguably saved Marvel from going bust. Unfortunately, the Blade trilogy suffered a significant dip in quality with Snipes' exit after the controversial third film in 2004.
Fast forward to today, and Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali is set to step into Snipes' boots in the MCU reboot. Fans got a taste of this with his uncredited cameo in Eternals, and are excitedly waiting for his starring role.
Script Battles and Production Inconsistencies
The Blade revival has seen its fair share of production inconsistencies, with initial director Bassam Tariq and scriptwriter Stacy Osei-Kuffour exiting the project. Yann Demange became the replacement director, with Michael Starrbury and later, Nic Pizzolatto, working on the screenplay. However, as of June 2024, both Demange and Pizzolatto have left the project, making way for Eric Pearson to take up scriptwriting duties. Despite these changes, Ali and Mia Goth remain attached to the film.
Ali's Blade versus Snipes' Legacy
Blade's script was reportedly rewritten from scratch after Ali considered departing due to his dissatisfaction with the earlier drafts, which made his character secondary to a female-centric narrative. However, despite these setbacks, Ali assured fans in a December 2021 interview with Entertainment Weekly of his enthusiasm for the film.
As Blade fans anticipate the film's slated release on November 7, 2025, it will be intriguing to see how Mahershala Ali shapes the character's legacy in distinct ways from his predecessor, Wesley Snipes. Marvel is counting on Ali to merge the old with the new and propel Blade into its next phase.
