Mahershala Ali’s "Blade" Movie: What We Know So Far
After a series of delays, Mahershala Ali’s highly anticipated role as a vampire slayer in the Marvel film "Blade" is still on track, according to Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. During a press event, Feige reassured fans that "Mahershala is still attached" to the project, which aims to revitalize the character originally brought to life by Wesley Snipes in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Ali is set to take on the iconic role in the upcoming film, which has faced numerous challenges since its initial announcement.
Feige humorously explained one of the hurdles the project encountered, mentioning a playful request from director Ryan Coogler for costumes intended for "Sinners," a different vampire film that Marvel had previously commissioned. "We said, ‘Take them, man, no problem,’” Feige recalled, underscoring the camaraderie within the industry. However, he also identified more serious issues behind the film’s delays, attributing them to Marvel’s "over-expansion" during a time when Disney mandated increased content production for its streaming service, Disney+.
"The situation led to a scenario where quantity overshadowed quality," Feige noted, echoing sentiments expressed by Disney CEO Bob Iger. He reflected on the meticulous care Marvel had taken over the past 12 years while crafting the Infinity Saga, stating, "We always had more characters that people wanted than we could produce. Suddenly, we had a mandate to create more content, and we ventured into overdrive."
As Marvel reevaluates its development strategy, "Blade," which was initially slated for a November 2023 release, has been one of the projects affected by this shift. "We didn’t want to just put a leather outfit on him and have him start killing vampires. It had to be something special," Feige explained. He emphasized that the creative team strived for "insanely great" material, and at the time, they didn’t feel confident in the script they had.
Originally set to begin shooting in 2022, the film has seen multiple directors come and go, with Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange both departing the project. Currently, there is no director attached, but Ali remains eager to start production. "Call Marvel," he told Variety at the premiere of his recent film, "Jurassic World Rebirth." When asked about the timeline for "Blade," Ali expressed his readiness, stating, "I’m ready. Let them know I’m ready."
Over the years, several screenwriters have been involved with the project, including "Watchmen" writer Stacy Osei-Kuffour and Michael Starrbury. Feige revealed that there have been "three or four" versions of the "Blade" story, with the current focus on a modern-day setting—allowing them to return the costumes to Ruth E. Carter.
Regarding Coogler’s "Sinners," Feige clarified that he is not in line to direct the film, as he is currently focused on "Black Panther 3," which is also in development.
Reflecting on the announcement made at Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation during Comic-Con in 2019, Feige admitted, "Only in hindsight do I regret it. But I don’t, because that’s how we announced everything before." He acknowledged the "tremendous amount of curveballs" that have impacted the studio since then, including industry-wide challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and specific obstacles faced by Marvel, such as the loss of key talent and changing storylines.
As fans eagerly await the release of "Blade," it’s clear that Marvel is committed to delivering a film that meets both its high standards and the expectations of its audience. Stay tuned for more updates as the project develops!
