Blade Writer on MCU Reboot Delay: 'Why So Long?'

The screenwriter behind the Wesley Snipes "Blade" trilogy has expressed his readiness to answer Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige's call to help salvage Mahershala Ali's long-delayed MCU reboot.

The once highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe film has encountered numerous obstacles in recent years, and now appears completely stalled with little hope of resuming production.

Last month, rapper and artist Flying Lotus took to X/Twitter to discuss his involvement, revealing that the original version of the project is essentially dead. "I guess we are so far from it even being a possibility now," said the DJ, who recently directed Shudder's sci-fi horror film ASH. "Yeah, I was signed on to write music for the new BLADE movie before it fell through. Maybe it'll come around again, but I doubt it. Would have been fun, though."

The day before Flying Lotus's tweet, Black Panther costume designer Ruth E. Carter confirmed during an appearance on The John Campea Show that she was set to design costumes for "Blade" before production collapsed. She added that the film was planned to be set in the 1920s, which would have offered fantastic opportunities for costume and production design.

Actor Delroy Lindo, who was attached to star alongside Ali for a time, also spoke about the project's demise just days before Carter's comments.

"When Marvel approached me, they seemed genuinely interested in my input," he told Entertainment Weekly. "The conversations with the producers, writer, and director at the time were very collaborative. It was exciting conceptually and for the character being developed. Then, for whatever reason, it just went off the rails."

"Blade" was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019. Had development stayed on track, fans would be anticipating its release this November. The project has seen several directors come and go, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, but none have remained attached.

Speaking to ScreenRant, David S. Goyer, who wrote all three films in the original trilogy and directed "Blade: Trinity," expressed his bewilderment at the lengthy delays and confirmed his interest in helping.

"I would," Goyer said when asked if he'd write Marvel's "Blade" reboot. "I've always loved the character. I've been on the sidelines wondering, 'What in the world is going on? Why is it taking so long?' As a huge Marvel fan myself, I've been totally puzzled."

It has been only seven months since "Blade" was removed from Marvel's release schedule, and the studio has not yet set a new date. However, a month after the delay, Feige affirmed Marvel's commitment to making the film.

"We are committed to 'Blade.' We love the character and Mahershala's take on him," he said during an interview with Omelete in November 2024. "Whenever we adjust a project's direction or timeline, we keep the audience informed. You're all up to date. I can confirm the character will indeed join the MCU."

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Meanwhile, the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine, which featured a cameo from Wesley Snipes as Blade, was a massive box office hit, earning $1.3 billion globally. Star Ryan Reynolds has since called for a proper send-off film for Snipes's Blade, similar to Hugh Jackman's "Logan."

Reynolds argued that 1998's "Blade" and its sequels paved the way for modern superhero films, making later franchises like X-Men and the MCU possible.

"There is no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade first creating a market," Reynolds posted on X/Twitter. "He’s Marvel Daddy. Please retweet for a Logan-like send-off."

Earlier this month, reports indicated Reynolds is in the "early stages" of developing a new Deadpool and X-Men movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, his idea features Deadpool not as the lead, but sharing the spotlight with three or four other X-Men characters, allowing them to be "used in unexpected ways."