MCU Blade Reboot Delay: Writer Shares Universal Frustration

David S. Goyer, the acclaimed writer behind the original Wesley Snipes Blade trilogy, has expressed his readiness to step in and help revitalize Mahershala Ali's stalled Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) reboot of the iconic vampire hunter. Despite the project being announced at San Diego Comic Con in 2019, with an intended release this November, the film has faced numerous setbacks and is currently without a confirmed release date.

The project has seen a carousel of directors, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, but none have stayed on to see it through. Just seven months ago, Blade was removed from Marvel's release schedule, yet Marvel chief Kevin Feige has reiterated the studio's commitment to the character and Ali's portrayal of him. "We are committed to Blade. We love the character, we love Mahershala's take on him," Feige stated in a November 2024 interview with Omelete, emphasizing that the character would eventually make it to the MCU.

However, the road to bringing Blade to the screen has been fraught with challenges. Rapper and artist Flying Lotus, who was set to contribute music to the film, recently shared on X/Twitter that the project had fallen through. "I guess we are so far from it even being a possibility now but. Yeah I was signed on to write music for the new BLADE movie before it fell thru," he said, expressing doubts about its revival.

Further complicating matters, costume designer Ruth E. Carter, known for her work on Sinners, revealed on The John Campea Show that she was slated to design costumes for a 1920s-set Blade, a setting that promised rich and unique visual storytelling. Actor Delroy Lindo, who was also attached to the project, shared his disappointment with Entertainment Weekly, highlighting how the film's early stages were filled with excitement and inclusivity before it "went off the rails."

Amidst these developments, the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine saw Wesley Snipes reprise his role as Blade in a cameo, which contributed to the film's massive $1.3 billion global box office success. Ryan Reynolds, who stars as Deadpool, has publicly advocated for Snipes' Blade to receive a send-off film similar to Hugh Jackman's Logan, acknowledging the original Blade's pivotal role in paving the way for superhero cinema. "There is no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade first creating a market," Reynolds stated on X/Twitter, calling Snipes "Marvel Daddy."

Reynolds is also reportedly in the early stages of developing a Deadpool and X-Men ensemble film, where Deadpool would not be the central focus but would share the stage with other X-Men characters, allowing them to be "used in unexpected ways," according to THR.

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