Blade (1998-2006) It was one of the most profitable sagas for Marvel Studios. He was the one who prevented his bankruptcy at the time, long before the MCU. The reboot of this franchise, which began with Wesley Snipes, will continue with Mahershala Ali. However, its development is not the best so far. Ever since Kevin Feige announced the film back in 2019 at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel has been working to find the right director. This search ended with a promising director named Bassam Tariq. However, today we woke up to the sad news that Tariq announced his resignation so abruptly that the Blade reboot loses its director.
With his inclusion, he was expected to start filming the movie in October. But now Marvel must find a new director. However, Tariq remains a producer on the film. Still, there are questions about who will replace him and how long it will take the studio to find him.
Blade Reboot Loses Its Director, Long-Awaited MCU Movie Faces Trouble
Image: ANDREAS RENTZ/GETTY
A problem has arisen when there are only a few weeks left until the shooting of the new Sword film starring Mahershala Ali. The Hollywood Reporter reported that director Bassam Tariq quit his job on the production, so the Blade reboot lost its director. This filmmaker was the one who guided the success of mogul mowglireleased in 2020. His resignation will possibly delay the start of filming and cause it to take longer to develop.
Marvel Studios made the following statement when Tariq’s departure from Blade became known. He says, “Due to ongoing changes in our production schedule, Bassam is no longer moving forward as director of Blade, but he will continue to executive produce the film. We appreciate Bassam’s talent and all the work he has done to get Blade where he is.”
Tariq also commented on his departure: “It has been an honor to work with the wonderful people at Marvel. We were able to put together a killer cast and crew. Looking forward to seeing where the next director takes the film.”
Image: Apple TV
With the official departure of Tariq as director, the Blade movie is in trouble. The script is under review, and now the studio must be in “search mode” to find a new person to direct this movie. At the moment, the film is on hold until a new director is appointed.
Considering that Marvel Studios scheduled the release for the end of the year 2023, the production team should start with the production of the film soon. This impulse is to finish the script and start shooting. This situation is not a new scenario for the company, as it faced it in 2014 when Edgar Wright resigned as director of Ant Man (2015). However, it is something they did not expect, which complicates the picture.
What We Know So Far About Marvel’s Vampire Hunter Movie
Image: Marvel Studios
As for the movie, we know the estimated release date is November 3, 2023. However, now that we know the Blade reboot lost its director, Marvel Studios is likely to postpone it. However, no one from the company has commented on the rescheduling of filming so far.
As for the synopsis or plot of the production, we have some details. First, we will not see the origin of the vampire hunter. Presumably we will see him in full action, facing his enemies. We deduce this from the cameo he had in Eternals (2021). As for his weapons, it is likely that we will see him with his usual tools, such as his silver sword.
Regarding the cast, we have the protagonist Mahershala Ali. In addition, Kevin Feige confirmed the participation of Aaron Pierre and Delroy Lindo. John West Jr. and Kit Harington are others who sound for the film. Tariq is still involved as part of the production team, and Tariq and Stacy Osei-Kuffour wrote the script.
For now, filming is on hold until Marvel finds a new director and finalizes the script. Although it was ready a few days ago, the script underwent several last-minute changes. The script is currently being reviewed by executives from the production team, so we’ll have to wait to find out more.
Image via New Line Cinema
The film will be released in theaters, although it is not surprising that Disney+ has it available shortly after the theatrical release. There are high expectations for this film due to the success and relevance of this saga. Even Wesley Snipes stated that he wants to see Blade again in the movies, even though he’s not playing him.
Featured Image via Apple TV/Marvel Studios
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