- New reports suggest Marvel may have hit pause on Blade
- Recent news claimed John Wick’s Chad Stahelski had boarded the film
- Insider insight alludes to continued behind-the-scenes trouble
Has Marvel put Blade back in his coffin for good?
According to new reports, it looks like the trouble bringing a new take on the Daywalker into the Marvel Cinematic Universe may have forced the project into an indefinite standstill.
Read more: Could John Wick director take on Blade reboot?
Marvel has been working on a Blade reboot starring Mahershala Ali in the lead role for some time. It was scheduled for release in late 2025. However, after lots of director and writer drop outs, the studio dropped the movie from its schedule entirely.
Just last week, news started circulating that John Wick filmmaker Chad Stahelski could be poised to pick up directing duties on the film. However, just a few days later, new rumors emerged that paint a completely different – and less positive – picture.
As reported on the movie website JoBlo, this latest update hangs largely on a social media thread posted on X by a writer on movie website The Playlist.
While its author Rodrigo Perez warns readers to take his reporting with a hearty pinch of salt, many believe his behind-the-scenes insight could have some truth to it.
Read more: What future for Blade after Marvel drops it from schedule?
“I’m told the rumors that “John Wick” filmmaker Chad Stahelski could take over the franchise are incorrect. In fact, the creative direction of “Blade” has totally shifted,” said Perez in his X thread.
He added: “from what I’m hearing the “Blade” movie is essentially nixed for now.”
Will there be a Blade movie?
At the moment, Blade’s future is unclear.
Despite Perez’s rumors, Marvel has yet to confirm or deny anything solid about the character’s future. Even Perez suggests that Blade may still appear later down the line with Ali in the titular role.
“That doesn’t mean we won’t get a “Blade” movie someday,” he added in another post. He also claimed that “pencils have been put down and active development on it is shuttered for the moment. But who knows, we could still get it down the line.”
In the meantime, audiences have already had a recent hit of Blade courtesy of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s Deadpool & Wolverine.
Here, the character was played by Wesley Snipes, the same actor who brought Blade to mainstream movie acclaim via a trilogy of movies throughout the late 90s and early noughties.
What has Kevin Feige said?
Despite the fact that the Blade movie has been indefinitely removed from the MCU’s calendar, Marvel boss Kevin Feige has assured fans he’ll make an appearance one day.
“We love the character, we love Mahershala’s version of him. And rest assured: whenever we change direction with a project, or are still trying to figure out how it fits into our schedule, we let the public know,” Feige said in 2024.
“You’re up to date on what’s going on. But I can tell you that the character will be coming to the MCU.”
Feige has also stated that whatever happens, Ali will still be playing the role.
