Despite multiple accounts of behind-the-scenes drama negatively impacting Marvel Studios' plans to bring Blade back to the screen, star Mahershala Ali has now shared a promising production update.
It may seem hard to believe, but it's been over four years since the studio first announced plans for a reboot starring the Green Book actor during San Diego Comic-Con, and if reports are accurate, the project has been plagued by production woes ever since.
A recent Variety exposé outlined some of the (supposed) issues Marvel Studios has been dealing with over the past while, and the studio was said to be having a hard time nailing down Blade's story (which isn't exactly a major revelation given the amount of writers and directors that have been attached at various points).
It was also claimed that Ali threatened to away from the project at one point due to frustrations with the script.
Apparently, some early drafts saw Ali's new take on the Daywalker "relegated to third or fourth lead" in his own movie, and while this has been disputed by a writer who worked on a draft prior to the strikes (more here), it's clear that this production has been anything but plain sailing.
However, it seems things may have turned a corner.
During a new interview with EW, Ali shared a positive update on the project, and the actor sounds confident that filming will be ready to begin fairly soon.
“We’re working on it. That’s the best I could tell you. I’m really encouraged with the direction of the project. I think we’ll be back at it relatively soon.”
“I’m sincerely encouraged in terms of where things are at and who’s on board and who’s leading the way as far as the writing of the script and the directing and all that,” he added. “So that’s the extent of what I can tell you.”
Production was further impacted by the Hollywood strikes, and Marvel pushed the movie back to Nov. 7, 2025. Following numerous drafts and screenwriters, Logan and Alien: Covenant scribe Michael Green recently signed on to pen the script.
Yann Demange (who stepped in to replace Tariq earlier this year) is still on board to direct, and has previously confirmed that the movie will indeed be rated R.
"I'm excited to show a kind of ruthlessness, a roughness he has, that allows him to walk the earth in a particular way. I love him for that," said the filmmaker. "He’s got a dignity and integrity, but there is a ferocity there that he usually keeps under the surface. I want to unleash that and put it on the screen."
Blade will also star Aaron Pierre, Delroy Lindo, and Mia Goth.