Fans of Marvel, for the longest time, have been advocating for John Wick director Chad Stahelski at the forefront of a possible MCU project. To the dismay of many MCU enjoyers, Stahelski recently revealed in an interview that he was a potential contender for being the Blade director. He also expressed his sentiments about wanting to be the one who brought the project to fruition. MCU’s Blade, which features actor Mahershala Ali, will see a reboot of the notable franchise. The film is the seventh installment in Marvel’s upcoming Phase 5.
Read also: Mahershala Ali Finally Reveals About Marvel’s Blade Comic-Con Announcement in Badass Instagram Post
The fans look forward to the promise of a different Blade than what we’ve previously seen on the big screen, as director Bassam Tariq is the one who has been selected to develop the film. However, what now seems apparent is that before Tariq, Chad Stahelski may have wanted a piece of the Blade pie.
Chad Stahelski Wanted To Work On Blade
According to a recent interview with Comicbook.com, the director of all the well-acclaimed John Wick movies opened up about his connection with Marvel Studios. The uber-talented director talked about how Marvel was a very influential aspect of his film career. In his reveal, Stahelski also stated that he was interested to be a part of a film centered around the character of Blade. Before this, the director recounted a meeting he had with Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, who he called “an awesome guy.”
Read also: Blade Actors From Original Trilogy We Want To See In The MCU Mahershala Ali Movie
This is what Stahelski said about the producer:
“He’s been a – in a way – a very strong mentor, even though it was a short period of time. I’ve only talked to him a few times, but he has been very influential in mindset and how to do it.”
In their meeting at the Burbank Marvel Studio, Chad Stahelski told the Marvel producer and president that he wanted to shape the Daywalker project within the landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Feige had asked, “what could we ever do?” To this, Stahelski had a reply which makes sense putting into context how stringent MCU has been with R-Rated films, up until very recently. He said:
“Look, I’m not going to lie to you. I don’t know if I fit that kind of studio mold, but Blade would be the one interesting thing I’d like to do.”
Following this statement, the American stuntman also expressed how he feels uncertain over whether it would’ve been “the best choice” if Feige had proceeded with Stahelski as the director for the upcoming Blade film, instead of current director Bassam Tariq.
Read also: Why John Wick Movies Are the Greatest American Action Films
Chad Stahelski Thinks Marvel Wants To Protect Their Brand
According to Chad Stahelski, Marvel may have been protecting their brand. As seen in the John Wick movies, Stahelski is more about action-packed gruesome sequences, with strong and bloody violence, a theme which aligns itself to the “edgy Rated-R” route, as reaffirmed by the director himself. A tone that quite contradicts the image Marvel has built up over the years. Here is what the director had to say:
“If you want to do the edgy-rated R version, yeah, give me a call. If you want to be non-apologetic, yeah. That’s me. But I think they’re protecting their brand, they’re doing their thing.”
One thing that the acclaimed director was quick to do was show his honest appreciation for the present director of MCU’s Blade, as he stated how Bassam Tariq “will do a great job” in the direction Marvel wishes to take their projects.
Read also: Blade: Behind-the-Scenes Meetings With Kevin Feige and Mahershala Ali Revealed By Writer
Chad Stahelski for a potential R-Rated Punisher movie?
While both the fans of Chad Stahelski and Marvel have expressed their disappointment, many are claiming that the director still has a chance to make his MCU debut. Fans on Twitter have suggested that the majorly admired director could choose to work on a project which features the notable Marvel anti-hero, Punisher. The thematic values that Stahelski prides himself in align well with the tonality of the character and his journey.
This is what people had to say:
need Chad Stahelski on the next Punisher or Wolverine project
— B. THEE ALIEN SUPERSTAR (They/Them) (@judai_supremacy) January 6, 2022
Have him direct a Punisher movie. pic.twitter.com/5ZzoSfnpEz
— 💛❤️💙🤍treystar679 (@treystar679) August 3, 2022
I need Chad Stahelski to make a Punisher movie or new D+ show.
— andrew 𒉭 Thank You Miura (@esoteraphile) January 8, 2022
Whether Chad Stahelski would ever make his MCU debut as a director is pretty unclear as of yet. However, fans of the franchise would accept his grotesque brilliance in the current cinematic landscape wholeheartedly.
Blade is set for a November 3, 2023 release with Mahershala Ali in the titular role.
Source: The Direct
