Sorry, Marvel lovers, but the Blade reboot has been delayed indefinitely. As Bassam Tariq left the project, the director search continues for the vampire film starring two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali as the titular vampire hunter.
The film’s original release date of November 3, 2023, has been pushed back to 2024. Delroy Lindo will appear with Ali in the character of the human-vampire hybrid, but his precise function has not yet been established.
Deadline also reported that Aaron Pierre, star of The Underground Railroad, has signed on for a significant part in the film, however, it remains unknown who Pierre would portray. Blade, once a supporting character in Marvel’s comics universe when he was created in 1973, has since become a fan favorite thanks in large part to Wesley Snipes’ portrayal of the character in the movies.
Little is known about the plot of the reboot, but the origin of Blade—a half-vampire named Eric Brooks who is hellbent on eliminating all bloodsuckers with his skills and superhuman abilities—will make for an interesting addition to the MCU. When Marvel announced their plans for a new Blade film at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, fans were ecstatic.
But, Ali’s voice can be heard in the Eternals’ after-credits scene, so at least we know that the character will be featured in the MCU.
Marvel Studios’ Blade Release Date
According to Radiotimes, Marvel has officially put a halt to Blade filming as of today (12 October 2022). The new release date is September 6, 2024. There was talk of a November 3, 2023, release date, however, that date has since been pushed back.
| Movie Title | MCU Blade |
|---|---|
| Release Date | October 7, 2022 |
| Directed by | Bassam Tariq |
| Produced by | Kevin Feige, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Schwartz |
| Screenplay by | Stacy Osei-Kuffour |
| Based on | Blade by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan |
| Starring | Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Marwan Kenzari, Stephen Dorff, and others |
| Production Company | Marvel Studios |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
It was announced during San Diego Comic-Con 2022 that the film would be released in 2023 as part of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and The Multiverse Saga. The film’s director Kevin Feige and star Mahershala Ali announced during the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.
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Production is scheduled to start in October 2022 at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Cleveland, New Orleans, and Morocco have all reportedly been used as filming locations.
Who’s in the Cast of Blade?
When the cast of the upcoming Blade movie was announced, the first actor to be confirmed was Mahershala Ali. In the time since we’ve heard some intriguing casting news. Delroy Lindo, who co-starred with Chadwick Boseman in the Spike Lee film Da 5 Bloods and won an award for his performance, has been cast in the film.
The Cider House Rules, Gone in 60 Seconds, and Netflix’s The Harder They Fall are a few of Lindo’s other notable credits. Aaron Pierre is also joining the cast in a role that has yet to be announced. Pierre has starred in several films, including Krypton, The Underground Railroad, and Old (an M. Night Shyamalan film).
There have also been rumblings that Antony Starr, actor in The Boys, may play Dracula in the film, which would be an interesting twist on the role if true.
Who Are the Confirmed Characters in the New Blade Movie?
As we are still in the preproduction phase, Ali’s Blade is the only cast member who has been officially confirmed. Since the new film will feature the character within the MCU, other heroes and villains from the shared universe could make cameo appearances.
Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) are the most apparent candidates. Dr. Strange and Blade have both been members of the Marvel super-team Midnight Sons, which has featured some of the most powerful supernatural characters in comics.
Is there any chance of a Midnight Sons reunion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Perhaps; after all, what can one say? It would be intriguing if the Scarlet Witch appeared in Blade after her destiny in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.
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To that end, you know what would be awesome? Cameo appearances from other heroes! If Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool made an appearance in the next Blade film. Reynolds played Hannibal King in the third Blade film, Blade: Trinity. You can bet that if Wade and Blade ever met, that would be used as a joke.
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No matter how much we’d like to know who will be in the film, we’ll have to wait and see. The comic book version of Blade has accumulated a long roster of friends, foes, friends-turned-enemies, and enemies-turned-reluctant-allies. Anyone from Deacon Frost, the vampire partially responsible for the creation of Blade, to Dracula, Blade’s archenemy, could come up. Therefore, keep checking back for more information!
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