The MCU has been criticized endlessly for churning out mediocre shows and films recently. Almost all of Phase 4 has been unanimously criticized by fans for having too many projects, 18 to be exact, that weren’t properly vetted for quality. However, it looks like Marvel Studios has recognized its mistakes. Film insider Jeff Sneider stated on The Hot Mic that Marvel is planning on reducing its output.
Several projects have been delayed already. One such high-profile film that has been pushed back is the Mahershala Ali-led film, Blade. But the movie wasn’t delayed to give it more room to breathe between other projects. It was pushed back due to production issues. However, amid such troubles, the film has made headlines by grabbing a rising star for its cast- Mia Goth.
Mia Goth Joins MCU’s Blade With Mahershala Ali
Mia Goth in the MCU? Who would have thought? But apparently, that has happened. The new horror queen stunned everyone with her work in movies like Pearl and X. Now, she has finally made it to the MCU. Deadline reported that the actress is all set to star in Blade with lead actor Mahershala Ali. The outlet stated that Yann Demange is going to direct with Michael Starrbury writing the script and Kevin Feige producing.
Goth is having a great year and this is another feather she had added to her cap. Marvel fans are excited to have her onboard and there’s already plenty of speculation about what character she is playing. As per Twitter scooper MyTimeToShine, the horror actress is playing Dracula’s daughter Lilith. Here’s the tweet:
There's your Lilith https://t.co/Z3DzNI3IIF
— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) April 12, 2023
In the pages of Marvel comics, Lilith is counted as one of the most formidable and strongest demon vampires in the entire Marvel Universe. Fans are hoping that her casting announcement means that production is now going smoothly after all the issues the film faced initially.
Blade’s Major Production Troubles That Halted Production
Blade was announced in 2019 at the SDCC comic con, but production on the film was reportedly pushed to 2023 due to various issues. There was news of Bassim Tariq departing, who was initially set to direct the film. As a result, Marvel Studios halted production and scrambled to find a replacement director. Apart from this, lead actor Mahershala Ali was frustrated with the script of the project.
Film insider Jeff Sneider reported that the actor wasn’t happy with the poor action sequences. He said:
“I’m told that the current BLADE script is roughly 90 pages and features exactly TWO (lackluster) action sequences. Mahershala said to be very frustrated with the process. Feige said to be spread too thin. But hey, that’s just what sources are telling me. Don’t shoot the messenger”
However, Yann Demange’s joining as the new director, as well as the script getting overhauled under Emmy-nominated writer Michael Starrbury is good news. It could be interpreted to mean that the film is on track as no other delays have been announced. Also, it reveals that Mahershala Ali is confident in his new collaborators.
Blade will hit theaters on 6 September 2024.
