MCU's Blade Reboot Delay: Writer Shares Common Fan Frustration

The writer behind the iconic Wesley Snipes Blade trilogy, David S. Goyer, has expressed his readiness to step in and help Marvel chief Kevin Feige navigate the troubled waters surrounding Mahershala Ali’s M.I.A. MCU reboot. The much-anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe film, "Blade," has encountered numerous obstacles, leaving its future uncertain.

Last month, rapper and artist Flying Lotus shared on X/Twitter his involvement in the project, revealing that the original vision for Blade is no more. "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. The DJ, who recently directed Shudder’s sci-fi horror film ASH, added, "Maybe it'll come around again but I doubt it. Would have been fun tho."

Just a day before Flying Lotus's tweet, costume designer Ruth E. Carter, known for her work on Sinners, confirmed on The John Campea Show that she was set to design costumes for Blade, which was planned to be set in the 1920s. This setting would have offered a unique opportunity for stunning costume and production design.

Actor Delroy Lindo, who was initially attached to star alongside Mahershala Ali, also discussed the project's collapse with Entertainment Weekly. "When Marvel came to me, they seemed to be really interested in my input," he said. "And in the various conversations I had with producers, the writer, the director at the time, it was all leading into being very inclusive. It was really exciting conceptually, but it was also exciting in terms of the character that was going to form. And then, for whatever reason, it just went off the rails."

Blade was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, with a planned release in November of this year. However, the film has seen a revolving door of directors, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, none of whom stayed with the project. In an interview with ScreenRant, Goyer, who wrote and directed entries in the original trilogy, expressed his confusion about the delays. "I would," he said when asked if he'd write Marvel’s Blade reboot. "I’ve always loved the character and I love him. I’ve been sitting on the sidelines wondering, ‘What in the world is going on? Why is it taking so long?’ Because I’m a huge Marvel fan myself, and I’ve just been totally puzzled."

Seven months ago, Blade was removed from Marvel’s release schedule, and the studio has yet to announce a new date. However, in an interview with Omelete in November 2024, Feige reaffirmed Marvel's commitment to the project. "We are committed to Blade. We love the character, we love Mahershala's take on him. And rest assured: whenever we change direction with a project, or are still figuring out how it fits into our schedule, we let the audience know. You're all up to date on what's happening," he stated. "But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU."

Meanwhile, the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine, which featured a cameo by Wesley Snipes as Blade, grossed $1.3 billion globally. Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds has advocated for Snipes' Blade to receive a send-off film similar to Hugh Jackman's Logan. Reynolds acknowledged the impact of the original Blade films, stating on X/Twitter, "There is no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade first creating a market. He’s Marvel Daddy. Please retweet for a Logan-like send-off."

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Reynolds is in the "early stages" of developing a Deadpool and X-Men movie, as per THR. The proposed film would feature Deadpool sharing the spotlight with three or four other X-Men characters, allowing them to take center stage and be "used in unexpected ways."

The 25 Best Superhero Movies

View 27 Images