Blade, played by Mahershala Ali, featured in upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movie
Marvel Studios' reboot of the iconic vampire hunter, Blade, is back in the spotlight with the announcement of a new director. Bassam Tariq, known for his work on films like '71, White Boy Rick, and the pilot episode of HBO's Lovecraft Country, has been confirmed as the director for the upcoming film, starring Mahershala Ali.
The news comes after a series of delays and changes in the project. Initially planned to begin filming this fall, director Bassam Tariq took over following the departure of previous director Bassam Tariq (no relation) in September. The production was subsequently halted to ensure the story was right and the best collaborators were found.
Blade, a fictional character created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, first appeared in The Tomb of Dracula #10 (1973) as a supporting character. Over the years, various actors, including Wesley Snipes, Sticky Fingas, J.D. Hall, Terry Crews, and others, have portrayed or voiced the character in different adaptations.
Blade is a unique vampire hunter with a fascinating physiology. Initially depicted as a human immune to vampire bites, later adaptations introduced him as a dhampir, a creature with one human and one vampire parent. In the upcoming film, Mahershala Ali will make his onscreen debut as Blade, following his voice appearance in the end credits of Eternals.
The new screenplay for the film has been written by Michael Starrbury, who was nominated for an Emmy for his contribution to Ava DuVernay's When They See Us. The film is expected to be darker and eerier than previous Marvel offerings, aligning with the tone of the original comics.
The studio originally planned to release Blade in 2023, but due to the recent developments, the release date is now uncertain. The film's production is set to begin in Atlanta next year, with Yann Demange serving as both the director and an executive producer on the project.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting new chapter in the Blade saga!
[1] - Marvel Studios Confirms Blade Reboot is Still in Development [2] - Bassam Tariq Confirmed as Director for Mahershala Ali's Blade [3] - Marvel Prioritizing Other Projects Over Blade
- The net worth of Marvel Studios is likely to see an increase with the success of Mahershala Ali's Blade, adding another high-profile film to their diverse portfolio of movies-and-tv content within the entertainment industry.
- With Bassam Tariq's directorial vision for the Blade reboot taking shape, anticipation grows for this darker and eerier iteration of the popular character, further cementing Marvel Studios' position as a leader in the film industry.
