In a surprising turn of events, as two-time Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali is trying to take up the mantle after Wesley Snipes, in his upcoming Blade reboot, the actor is facing delays with production. According to reports, MCU’s vampire thriller is unfortunately stuck in process due to the Studios’ failure to hire an established director.
Poised to take on the iconic role of Blade in Marvel Studios’ upcoming reboot, Mahershala Ali is allegedly growing frustrated with the prolonged delays. Considering Marvel Studios’ failure at securing a director for the highly anticipated project, following the exit of filmmaker Bassam Tariq, Ali has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction.
Blade Reboot is Facing Delays Over Marvel Studios’ Failure at Finding a Director
Scheduled to begin production in the latter half of 2022 with a November 3, 2023, release date, MCU’s Blade reboot unfortunately suffered a series of delays, with the release date now pushed back to November 7, 2025. However, considering the current situation plaguing the production of the vampire thriller, it seems highly unlikely that the film will be released in 2025.
According to reports from THR, MCU’s Blade reboot is yet to begin production, as the Studio is finding difficulty in signing a director for his highly anticipated movie. It all started after the project lost director Bassam Tariq in September 2022, as Marvel came to believe that Tariq was not the best fit. That’s when they handed over a list of directors to Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali, who is set to play Blade in the movie.
Considering that the list handed to him largely consisted of filmmakers who were untested at the big studio level, Mahershala Ali handpicked director Yann Demange as the second helmer to his film. Thereafter, Demange and writer Nic Pizzolatto were just starting to begin their work, when writers’ and actors’ strike shut the movie down.
Mahershala Ali Reportedly Expressed Frustration Over Blade’s Production Delays
In order to avoid Nic Pizzolatto’s absence from Blade production due to the writers’ strike, Marvel hired Michael Green. That’s when Yann Demange left, which completely dismantled Marvel Studios’ plans and schedule for Blade. Now, the project is facing significant issues in hiring an established filmmaker whose visions would align with that of the film.
Despite Marvel’s meticulous planning and execution, as Blade began falling apart due to the studio’s failure to ensure a suitable director for the iconic vampire hunter franchise, Mahershala Ali reportedly expressed frustration over production delay. After being announced as the new Blade back in 2019, as the reboot started facing a lack of progress on the directorial front, Ali’s frustration allegedly began mounting.
Although Marvel’s track record of success with the MCU is widely acknowledged, the prolonged search for a Blade director has raised questions about the project’s timeline and creative direction. As for Mahershala Ali, famously known for Moonlight and Green Book, since Blade represents a significant opportunity to showcase his versatility and star power within the superhero genre, the actor’s supposed frustration and impatience seem justified.
Blade is set to arrive in theaters on November 7, 2025.
