Marvel’s endeavor to reboot the Blade film series has proven to be far more tumultuous than initially anticipated. The project has faced setbacks, including the departure of a director and multiple writers, as well as a significant reduction in its budget. The latest life signs the IP is giving off aren’t exactly promising, but at least we know it is still kicking.
In a new report by Variety, it was revealed that earlier in production Blade had a very different direction from what fans expected from the movie starring Mahershala Ali as the titular vampire hunter.
The report suggests that the film was originally female-led, with “Blade was relegated to the fourth lead” for the movie. This narrative coincides with Marvel’s promotional push of the Bloodline: Daughter of Blade comic earlier this year.
Blade has reportedly undergone several revisions during its development with “at least five writers, two directors, and one shutdown six weeks before production.” Kevin Feige went “back to the drawing board” after the production issues and “reports that Ali was ready to exit over script issues.
Blade is undergoing massive changes, with Marvel bringing in Oscar-nominated writer Michael Green to rewrite the script. Green is best known for his work on Logan, which earned him a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Interestingly, the report also suggests that Marvel “is looking to make the film, now slated for 2025, on a budget of less than $100 million — a deviation from Marvel’s big-spending strategy.” These days, typical Marvel movies have a budget somewhere closer to $200 million – even smaller-scale films like Black Widow and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania had budgets of $200 million.
Having a lower budget is a bit worrisome considering the amount of VFX used in Marvel movies. One could interpret it as a sign that Marvel isn’t really going for a blockbuster with Blade or looking to expand the character beyond one movie.
Bassam Tariq was hired to direct the movie in September 2021 but reportedly quit due to production issues and not creative differences. “Due to continued shifts in our production schedule, Bassam is no longer moving forward as director of Blade but will remain an executive producer on the film,” Marvel announced in September 2022. “We appreciate Bassam’s talent and all the work he’s done getting Blade to where it is.” Yann Demange was hired in November 2022 to helm the project.
With Green rewriting the screenplay, filming will reportedly commence as soon as the strike ends. Ali is still onboard as Blade alongside Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, and Delroy Lindo. The Ebony Blade featured in The Eternals will make an appearance in the movie.
Blade is scheduled for release on February 14, 2025.
