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

The writer of the Wesley Snipes Blade trilogy, David S. Goyer, has expressed his willingness to assist Marvel chief Kevin Feige in revitalizing Mahershala Ali’s long-awaited MCU reboot of the iconic vampire hunter. The project, initially announced at San Diego Comic Con in 2019, has encountered numerous setbacks, leading to widespread speculation about its future.

Recent developments have cast further doubt on the film's progress. Rapper and artist Flying Lotus, who was set to compose music for the film, took to X/Twitter to reveal that the project is no longer viable. "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, adding a note of uncertainty about its revival. This follows the cancellation of his involvement in the film, which he had been eagerly anticipating.

Costume designer Ruth E. Carter also confirmed her involvement in the project during an appearance on The John Campea Show. She revealed that the film was intended to be set in the 1920s, promising unique and stylish costume and production designs. Unfortunately, like many others, her role was cut short due to the film's indefinite halt.

Actor Delroy Lindo, who was set to star alongside Mahershala Ali, shared his disappointment in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He described the initial excitement surrounding the project and the collaborative atmosphere fostered by Marvel, which ultimately fell apart for unspecified reasons.

Despite these setbacks, Marvel Studios remains committed to bringing Blade to the MCU. Kevin Feige reassured fans in an interview with Omelete in November 2024, stating, "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."

The film has seen multiple directors, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, but none have stayed on to see the project through. Goyer, reflecting on the delays, expressed his confusion and eagerness to contribute to the reboot. "I would," he told ScreenRant when asked if he’d write Marvel’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."

In the meantime, 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. Ryan Reynolds, who stars as Deadpool, has advocated for Snipes' Blade to receive a fitting farewell akin to Hugh Jackman's Logan. He 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."

Reynolds is also reportedly in the early stages of developing a Deadpool and X-Men ensemble film, where Deadpool would share the spotlight with other X-Men characters, allowing them to be "used in unexpected ways."

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