Rumors: ‘Blade’ Development Faces Challenges Yet Again, Project Set for Rewrite & Possible Delay in Filming This Year

Marvel has a plethora of projects slated for release in the coming years, many of which have been caught in limbo due to the recent SAG-AFTRA strike that brought the industry to a standstill, resulting in numerous delays and cancellations.

Among these projects, ‘Blade,’ an eagerly anticipated Marvel Studios venture, has faced challenges predating the strikes. This MCU-based film follows Eric Brooks, a prominent vampire hunter from the comics, and marks a reboot of the beloved ‘Blade’ trilogy, which played a pivotal role in paving the way for the MCU.

Details about the ‘Blade’ movie are scarce, aside from Mahershala Ali spearheading the project and portraying the titular vampire hunter. Initially slated for a 2023 release, the film’s debut has been pushed back to 2025 (thus far), largely due to Ali’s concerns with the script.

Recent rumors suggesting the project’s cancellation have shocked fans, adding another layer of uncertainty to a movie that has long been mired in development challenges.

A few months back, Yann Demange, the director of ‘Blade,’ confirmed that the movie would carry an R-rating, making it the second film in the MCU to hold such a classification after Deadpool 3. Frankly, it’s a necessary move for the movie, given its nature. While the plot remains largely under wraps, rumors suggest it may involve Blade’s daughter, adding to the intrigue surrounding the project.

However, recent posts by the usually reliable insider Caleb Williams on X have sparked concerns about the production status of ‘Blade’ once again. Speculation has arisen, with some suggesting the possibility of the movie’s cancellation (a recurring rumor) and rumors swirling that Mahershala Ali might be departing from the project. Williams later clarified in a tweet that the project is facing challenges primarily due to scheduling conflicts with other concurrent productions, potentially delaying the start of filming this year. Despite this setback, Ali remains committed to the project.

Williams also highlighted that Ali nearly walked away from the project before due to delays, as the concept for the ‘Blade’ movie originated from him, and he presented the script to the studio. Some fans have pointed out that Ali, now 50 years old, has a limited window for convincingly portraying action characters. However, rumors suggesting that the ‘Midnight Sons’ movie will replace ‘Blade’ are categorically false, as confirmed by the same source.

As the insider correctly noted, 2024 is shaping up to be a busy year for Marvel Studios, despite only ‘Deadpool 3’ being slated for release. Delays have pushed ‘Fantastic Four’ and ‘Thunderbolts’ into the early stages of production, while ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ is undergoing extensive reshoots and rewrites. Even if rumors about Ali departing the project are exaggerated, the likelihood of ‘Blade’ commencing filming this year remains minimal at best. This is especially true if the movie requires rewrites, a common occurrence in the current landscape as several films adjust to accommodate Disney’s evolving vision and the disrupted schedule caused by the SAG-AFTRA strike.

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