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 resolve the ongoing challenges with Mahershala Ali's Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) reboot of Blade. The much-anticipated film has faced numerous hurdles and appears to be at a standstill, with little indication of resuming production soon.

Last month, artist and DJ Flying Lotus shared on X / Twitter that he was once involved in the project, tasked with composing the music for the new Blade movie before it fell 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 stated. He recently directed the sci-fi horror film ASH for Shudder and expressed doubts about the project's revival, saying, "Maybe it'll come around again but I doubt it. Would have been fun tho."

Just a day before Flying Lotus's post, renowned costume designer Ruth E. Carter, known for her work on Sinners, confirmed on The John Campea Show that she had been set to design costumes for Blade. She revealed that the film was initially planned to be set in the 1920s, promising unique and stylish costume and production designs.

Actor Delroy Lindo, who was also cast to star alongside Mahershala Ali in the film, discussed its cancellation with Entertainment Weekly. He mentioned that Marvel seemed genuinely interested in his contributions during their initial discussions. "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," Lindo explained.

Blade was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, with a planned release this coming November. However, the project has seen several directors, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, come and go without progress.

In a recent interview with ScreenRant, David S. Goyer, who penned all three films in the original Blade trilogy and directed Blade: Trinity, expressed his confusion and frustration over the delays. "I would," he affirmed when asked about his willingness to write the MCU's Blade 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 confirmed. However, in November 2024, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige reiterated their commitment to the project during an interview with Omelete. "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," he stated. "But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU."

The 25 Best Superhero Movies

View 27 Images

Meanwhile, the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine, which featured Wesley Snipes reprising his role as Blade in a cameo, was a massive success, grossing $1.3 billion globally. Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds has advocated for a send-off film for Snipes' Blade, similar to Hugh Jackman's Logan. Reynolds credited the original Blade films with paving the way for the superhero genre, stating on X/Twitter, "There is no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade first creating a market. He’s Marvel Daddy. Please retweet for a Logan-like send-off."

Additionally, Reynolds is reportedly in the "early stages" of developing a Deadpool and X-Men movie, as per THR. This ensemble project would see Deadpool sharing the spotlight with three or four other X-Men characters, with Reynolds envisioning these characters being "used in unexpected ways."