Is Blade in deep trouble? Following numerous production issues, the MCU is now being rewritten by the mind behind Logan with a massively reduced budget.
A recent article by Variety seemed to confirm everyone’s fears about the current state of the MCU, with no project getting more focus in the feature than Blade. According to the author, star Mahershala Ali was set to leave the project prior to Logan writer Michael Green joining the project. The script seems to be taking a sharper focus on Blade, with prior versions seemingly having an overstuffed cast:
“One person familiar with the script permutations says the story at one point morphed into a narrative led by women and filled with life lessons. Blade was relegated to the fourth lead, a bizarre idea considering that the studio had two-time Oscar winner Ali on board. ”
Blade now has a rather tight budget of $100 million. While some may worry this means the MCU has given up on the project, Logan helmed a similar budget of $97 million. Keeping a tight belt on the film may keep the bloat of characters from getting out of control, potentially saving the project rather than dooming it.
The Talent Behind Marvel’s Blade movie
Yann Demange, known for directing White Boy Rick and ’71, is at the helm of Marvel’s Blade movie, with a script penned by Michael Green, who wrote Logan. Bassam Tariq was initially set to direct, but had to step down due to scheduling conflicts.
The original cast of Blade included Delroy Lindo, Aaron Pierre and Milan Ray, but it’s uncertain if they’re still attached to the project since it was supposed to begin production in November 2022 before undergoing a creative overhaul. For now, Blade is expected to begin shooting in a few weeks.
Blade is being produced by Marvel Studios veterans Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito and Eric Hauserman Carroll, with Bassam Tariq receiving an executive producer credit despite leaving the director’s chair. The movie is currently scheduled to hit theaters on September 6, 2024
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