Blade Trilogy Writer Asks: Why Is MCU Reboot Taking So Long?

The writer of the Wesley Snipes' Blade trilogy, David S. Goyer, has expressed his readiness to step in and help resolve the ongoing issues with Mahershala Ali's Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) reboot of the iconic vampire hunter. Despite being announced back in 2019 at San Diego Comic-Con, the project has faced numerous setbacks and currently shows little sign of moving forward.

Recent updates from individuals involved with the film have painted a grim picture of its status. Rapper and artist Flying Lotus took to X / Twitter to reveal that he was once set to compose the music for the new Blade movie, but the project has since fallen through. "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. He also mentioned his recent directorial venture, Shudder’s new sci-fi horror ASH, suggesting that while the Blade project might not come back, it would have been an exciting opportunity.

Just a day before Flying Lotus' tweet, costume designer Ruth E. Carter, known for her work on Sinners, confirmed on The John Campea Show that she was slated to design costumes for Blade. She added that the film was intended to be set in the 1920s, a setting that would have allowed for some stunning costume and production designs.

Actor Delroy Lindo, who was attached to star alongside Ali, also shared his disappointment with Entertainment Weekly. He spoke of the initial enthusiasm from Marvel and how the project seemed inclusive and exciting. "When Marvel came to me, they seemed to be really interested in my input," Lindo said. "And in the various conversations I had with producers, the writer, the director at the time, it was all leading into being very inclusive. It was really exciting conceptually, but it was also exciting in terms of the character that was going to form. And then, for whatever reason, it just went off the rails."

The film has seen multiple directors come and go, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, without any lasting progress. In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Goyer expressed his confusion and frustration over the delays. "I would," he said when asked about writing the reboot. "I’ve always loved the character and I love him. I’ve been sitting on the sidelines wondering, ‘What in the world is going on? Why is it taking so long?’ Because I’m a huge Marvel fan myself, and I’ve just been totally puzzled."

It has been seven months since Blade was removed from Marvel’s release schedule, and no new release date has been announced. However, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige remains optimistic. In an interview with Omelete in November 2024, he reaffirmed the studio's commitment to the project. "We are committed to Blade. We love the character, we love Mahershala's take on him. And rest assured: whenever we change direction with a project, or are still figuring out how it fits into our schedule, we let the audience know. You're all up to date on what's happening," Feige stated. "But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU."

Meanwhile, the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine saw Wesley Snipes reprise his role as Blade in a cameo, contributing to the film's massive $1.3 billion global box office success. Ryan Reynolds, who stars as Deadpool, has called for a proper send-off for Snipes' Blade, similar to Hugh Jackman's Logan. "There is no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade first creating a market," Reynolds stated on X/Twitter. "He’s Marvel Daddy. Please retweet for a Logan-like send-off."

In other developments, Reynolds is reportedly in the "early stages" of developing a Deadpool and X-Men ensemble film, as per THR. This project would feature Deadpool alongside three or four other X-Men characters, with the focus shifting away from Deadpool to allow the other characters to shine and be "used in unexpected ways."

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