Since the separation from director Bassim Tariq, Marvel Studios pushed the pause button on Blade to find a new director, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The Mahershala Ali-led film was going to start shooting in Atlanta in November. The crew was notified today that production would not move forward yet. The film will be delayed from November 3, 2023, to September 6, 2024. Production is estimated to begin in early 2023.
Losing the director two weeks ago has not been the only issue the film has faced. Marvel Studios has had Blade rewrites to nail the script. Currently, Moon Knight writer Beau DeMayo will pen the new script. According to a source who spoke to THR, “They want to really get it right” with this thorough search for someone to helm the blockbuster and for the rewrites. The vampire film will mark a new venture into supernatural horror following Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Moon Knight, and recently, Werewolf By Night.
Blade paused to sharpen as Marvel Studios hunts for a new director
Ali was announced to star as the vampire who slays vampires at San Diego Comic-Con 2019. It was a surprise in both casting and the project itself that had fans screaming with excitement. It partially came together because Ali called Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige to express interest in Blade.
Marvel Studios is still planning for Blade to release as a part of Phase 5. It would follow a stacked year of movies for the MCU with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and The Marvels leading to the November date for the vampire film. Now it is uncertain how the film’s delay will affect the plans for Phases 5 and 6. The rest of the year will include Disney+ shows Secret Invasion, Echo, Loki season 2, Ironheart, and Agatha: Coven of Chaos.
