The long-gestating, frequently-rewritten, possibly-cursed MCU reboot of “Blade” is still alive. Barely. Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige emerged at a press event and confirmed that Mahershala Ali was still attached to play the vampire-slayer in the MCU's upcoming Blade movie (via Variety).
Ali himself has been less than forthcoming. While promoting “Jurassic World: Rebirth” last month, the two-time Oscar winner was asked a Marvel trivia question by co-stars Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey — his response? “Leave me out of it,” before passing the buck to Johansson. In a separate red carpet interview, Ali told Variety, “Call Marvel… I’m ready. Let them know I’m ready.” So basically: he’s on standby.
Feige, meanwhile, attempted to offer clarity, or at least a very Marvel-ized explanation. The studio has, apparently, been suffering from a case of too-much-too-fast syndrome.
For the first time ever, quantity trumped quality. We spent 12 years building the Infinity Saga and always said, ‘That’s never going to happen to us. Then we got the mandate to make more. And we said, ‘Sure, we’ve got more!
As for Blade, the project has gone through too many drafts. Feige admitted that despite Ali being cast back in 2019, and making a brief voice cameo in “Eternals,” they still hadn’t nailed the tone.
We didn’t want to just throw a leather jacket on [Ali] and have him start killing vampires. We wanted something unique. And honestly? The script wasn’t insanely great at the time.
The most recent red flag? Earlier this month, it was discovered that costume designer Ruth E. Carter’s period wardrobe for “Blade” had been repurposed for Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners.” Online panic ensued. Did Marvel give up and just donate the film to Goodwill? Feige, ever the showman, tried to laugh it off:
The obstacle was, Ryan Coogler called and said, ‘We’d love some costumes for Sinners.’ And we said, ‘Take ’em, man. No problem.’ He’s a good friend.
This is a project that’s cycled through no fewer than six writers (Michael Green, Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Michael Starrbury, Beau DeMayo, Nic Pizzolatto, and now Eric Pearson) and at least three directors — Bassam Tariq, Yann Demange, and Cary Fukunaga (the last of whom never officially signed on but was in talks before reportedly walking away over creative control concerns).
The version of the script currently in play is Eric Pearson’s. And reportedly, it moves the setting from the previously planned 1920s backdrop into the present day — a sign that the tone and scope of the film have likely shifted again.
Since the project was first announced at Comic-Con 2019, delays have piled up: COVID, WGA/SAG strikes, multiple re-writes, casting changes, director exits. Aaron Pierre and Delroy Lindo are both off the film. Mia Goth, at least for now, is still attached to play Lilith, a vampiric villainess after the blood of Blade’s daughter.
So what do we know for sure? Mahershala Ali is still technically Blade. The project is still technically happening. The budget is hovering around $80M. It’s still supposed to be R-rated. And the costumes? Well, they’re off doing other things right now.