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

The writer of the Wesley Snipes' Blade trilogy, David S. Goyer, has expressed his readiness to step in and help Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige revive Mahershala Ali’s stalled Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) reboot of the iconic vampire hunter. Despite being announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, the project has faced numerous setbacks and appears to be at a standstill, leaving fans disappointed and uncertain about its future.

Recent comments from those involved have shed light on the project's troubled journey. Rapper and artist Flying Lotus, who was set to contribute to the film’s soundtrack, confirmed on social media that the project had been abandoned. "I guess we are so far from it even being a possibility now but. Yeah I was signed on to write music for the new BLADE movie before it fell thru," he said, hinting at the film's unlikely revival. This statement came just after costume designer Ruth E. Carter revealed on The John Campea Show that she was tasked with designing costumes for a 1920s-set Blade film before production collapsed.

Actor Delroy Lindo, who was attached to star alongside Ali, shared his experience with Entertainment Weekly, expressing initial excitement about the inclusive vision for the film, only to see it derail unexpectedly. "When Marvel came to me, they seemed to be really interested in my input... And then, for whatever reason, it just went off the rails," Lindo remarked.

The film, which has seen multiple directors including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq come and go, was removed from Marvel’s release schedule just seven months ago. Despite this, Feige remains optimistic, affirming Marvel’s commitment to the project in an interview with Omelete in November 2024. "We are committed to Blade. We love the character, we love Mahershala's take on him... But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU."

Amidst the uncertainty surrounding Blade's reboot, the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine, featuring a cameo by Wesley Snipes as Blade, became a massive success, grossing $1.3 billion globally. Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds has publicly advocated for Snipes' Blade to receive a farewell film similar to Hugh Jackman's Logan, acknowledging the original Blade films' pivotal role in paving the way for superhero cinema. "There is no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade first creating a market," Reynolds stated on X/Twitter, urging fans to support the idea of a send-off movie for the character.

Meanwhile, Reynolds is reportedly in the early stages of developing a Deadpool and X-Men ensemble film, where Deadpool would not be the central figure but share the spotlight with other X-Men characters, allowing them to be "used in unexpected ways."

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