Wesley Snipes Blade Trilogy Writer Has the Same MCU Reboot Question We All Do: ‘Why Is It Taking So Long?’

The writer behind the Wesley Snipes' Blade trilogy, David S. Goyer, has expressed his readiness to assist Marvel chief Kevin Feige in resolving the issues surrounding Mahershala Ali's stalled Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) reboot of Blade. The project, first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, has encountered numerous obstacles and is currently on an indefinite hold.

Recent comments from those involved in the project paint a grim picture of its future. Rapper and artist Flying Lotus, who was set to write music for the film, revealed on X/Twitter 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. Flying Lotus, who recently directed the sci-fi horror film ASH on Shudder, expressed doubts about the project's revival, though he acknowledged it would have been an exciting opportunity.

Costume designer Ruth E. Carter, known for her work on Sinners, confirmed during an appearance on The John Campea Show that she was slated to design costumes for Blade, which was intended to be set in the 1920s. This historical setting would have offered unique opportunities for both costume and production design.

Actor Delroy Lindo, who was set to co-star with Mahershala Ali in the film, shared his disappointment with Entertainment Weekly. "When Marvel came to me, they seemed to be really interested in my input," Lindo said. "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."

The film has seen a revolving door of directors, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, none of whom have remained with the project. Goyer, who wrote and directed films in the original Blade trilogy, expressed his confusion and eagerness to contribute to the reboot, telling ScreenRant, "I would... 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."

Blade was removed from Marvel's release schedule just seven months ago, with no new release date announced. However, Kevin Feige remains optimistic, stating in an interview with Omelete in November 2024, "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. But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU."

Meanwhile, the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine, featuring a cameo by Wesley Snipes reprising his role as Blade, was a massive success, grossing $1.3 billion globally. Ryan Reynolds, who stars as Deadpool, has advocated for a send-off film for Snipes' Blade, similar to Hugh Jackman's Logan. Reynolds emphasized the impact of the original Blade films, tweeting, "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 ensemble film, as per THR. This project would feature Deadpool sharing the spotlight with other X-Men characters, who would take center stage and be "used in unexpected ways."

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