Marvel's Blade Reboot Delay Questioned by Writer

The screenwriter behind Wesley Snipes' Blade trilogy has expressed his readiness to heed the call from Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to help salvage Mahershala Ali's long-delayed MCU reboot.

The once-imminent Marvel Cinematic Universe installment has encountered numerous obstacles over the years, and now Blade appears completely stalled with diminishing prospects of revival.

Last month, musician Flying Lotus took to X/Twitter to discuss his involvement, revealing that the original version of Blade has been abandoned. "I guess we are so far from it even being a possibility now. Yeah, I was signed on to write music for the new BLADE movie before it fell through," the DJ, who recently directed Shudder's sci-fi horror ASH, explained. "Maybe it'll resurface, but I doubt it. It would have been fantastic though."

The day before Flying Lotus' tweet, Black Panther costume designer Ruth E. Carter confirmed during an appearance on The John Campea Show that she was scheduled to design costumes for Blade before production collapsed. Notably, the film was planned to be set in the 1920s, which would have enabled stunning costume and production design.

Actor Delroy Lindo—who was briefly attached to star alongside Ali—also discussed the project's collapse just days before Carter's revelation.

"When Marvel approached me, they seemed genuinely interested in my input," he recently told Entertainment Weekly. "My discussions with producers, the writer, and the director at the time felt genuinely collaborative. The concept was thrilling, and my character's development was equally exciting. Then, for reasons unknown, everything derailed."

Marvel initially announced Blade at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019. Had everything proceeded as planned, audiences would be anticipating its release this November. The project has cycled through multiple directors, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, none of whom remained attached.

In a recent interview with ScreenRant, David S. Goyer, who penned all three original Blade films and directed 2004's Blade: Trinity, expressed confusion over the prolonged delays.

"Absolutely," Goyer responded when asked if he'd write Marvel's Blade reboot. "I've always adored the character. I've been watching from the sidelines, wondering, 'What's happening? Why is this taking so long?' As a devoted Marvel fan, I'm completely baffled."

It has only been seven months since Blade was removed from Marvel's release calendar—and the studio hasn't announced a new date. However, one month after the removal, Feige confirmed that Marvel Studios remains committed to bringing Blade to the MCU.

"We are dedicated to Blade. We love the character and Mahershala's interpretation. Whenever we adjust a project's direction or recalibrate its scheduling, we keep fans informed. You're all current on the situation," he stated during an interview with Omelete in November 2024. "But I can assure you this character will join the MCU."

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Meanwhile, the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine, featuring Snipes' cameo as Blade, became a massive success, earning $1.3 billion globally. Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds has advocated for a farewell film for Snipes' Blade, similar to Hugh Jackman's Logan.

Reynolds noted that 1998's Blade and its sequels pioneered the modern superhero film market, establishing the foundation for later franchises like X-Men and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"The Fox Marvel Universe and MCU wouldn't exist without Blade paving the way," Reynolds posted on X/Twitter. "He's Marvel's founding father. Please retweet to support a Logan-style sendoff."

Earlier this month, reports indicated Reynolds is in "early discussions" about a Deadpool and X-Men crossover film. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Reynolds' concept would feature Deadpool not as the protagonist, but sharing screen time with three or four other X-Men characters. The actor reportedly wants these characters to take leading roles and be "utilized in surprising ways."