(Image source: Marvel Studios)
Six years after Mahershala Ali was announced to take on the role of the MCU's "Daywalker" in 2019, the "Blade" reboot has yet to begin filming, plagued by multiple delays, numerous script rewrites, and several directors and writers exiting the project. While recent reports suggested Marvel had tapped "John Wick" franchise director Chad Stahelski to tackle the troubled production, other outlets quickly countered, indicating these rumors were false and the situation remains dire.
(Image source: Marvel Studios)
Critics shared their thoughts online:
Rodrigo Perez, editor at The Playlist, posted on X, stating that the news of Stahelski's involvement was inaccurate and that the film's creative direction has undergone significant changes. While Ali reportedly still wishes to portray the character, the film's development has currently been halted.
Perez believes that "Blade"'s current predicament mirrors that of the "Nova" series, which was also put on hold recently. He suggested that a halt doesn't necessarily mean permanent cancellation. Perez noted that Marvel intends to introduce Ali's Blade through other avenues first, most likely in a team-up film featuring supernatural characters like "Midnight Suns," or potentially in "Avengers: Secret Wars."
However, Perez speculated that "Secret Wars" would likely feature an overwhelming number of characters, potentially diluting the audience's focus on Blade. He proposed that having Blade join "Midnight Suns" or making a debut in a supporting role, similar to Namor's introduction in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," would be a more ideal approach. This strategy could also lay the groundwork for his eventual solo film.