The highly anticipated Blade movie has been beset with delay after delay after having originally planned to begin filming in Atlanta last spring. Marvel Studios thought their fourth hire as lead writer — Michael Green — would be their last, but the Blade Runner scribe left the project just like the others.
Also getting a huge facelift is the script, which lead actor Mahershala Ali has been trying to reconcile for more than a year now.
The film, which will have an R rating, will be helmed by Yann Demange, who previously directed Lovecraft Country. Other than that, pretty much everything else is in the air.
That’s a far cry from how Marvel and Disney saw the project a year ago. That’s when Marvel honcho Kevin Feige sat down with Entertainment Weekly and confirmed that Blade will restart in Atlanta around May 2023.
Marvel Delays Filming of Blade In Atlanta Yet Again
“It’s going well. Our director Yann [Demange] is down in Atlanta right now. Cameras roll in, like, the next 10 weeks or so,” Feige told Entertainment Weekly at the time.
That was good news coming one year after the popular franchise took an extended break mandated by the studio.
Marvel Studios had to pause the filming of the Blade movie to search for a new director.
The film, which stars Mahershala Ali in the title role, parted ways with director Bassim Tariq in September 2022. Instead of quickly tapping someone to fill the role, Marvel temporarily shelved the project.
Why Was Blade Project Postponed By Marvel Studios?
Tariq’s removal from the project had a lot to do with how the production schedule was going, according to THR.
“Due to continued shifts in our production schedule, Bassam is no longer moving forward as director of Blade but will remain an executive producer on the film,” Marvel told THR. “We appreciate Bassam’s talent and all the work he’s done getting Blade to where it is.”
Disney confirmed months ago that the new Blade movie had begun filming in Atlanta, Georgia. The project went through fits and starts though due to script rewrites.
If you’re a Blade fan like the rest of us, keep reading to find out the latest on the soon-to-be blockbuster movie.
Blade Movie Filming In Atlanta: Here’s What We Know
After Marvel Studios’ tremendous response to its Phase 4 movie schedule, Blade has been a priority of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
As you may know, the Blade franchise had a very popular run in the 1990s with Wesley Snipes in the lead role. Now, however, things have changed.
What Is The New Blade Movie About?
Blade is basically about a half-vampire anti-superheroes that stalks the underworld. While the film was originally going to feature Ali prominently in the title role, several revisions have pushed the character back as a sort of guiding force as younger stars shine in the spotlight.
Last December, Ali was on board with the changes, telling EW he was “sincerely encouraged in terms of where things are at and who’s on board and who’s leading the way as far as the writing of the script and the directing and all that.”
While the MCU has not been shy about making major changes to its superhero story arcs, there is no word just yet on what the plot of the new film will be.
Who Will Play Blade In The MCU?
Who Are The Cast Members In Blade Movie?
- Mahershala Ali
- Delroy Lindo
- Aaron Pierre
- Milan Ray
Antony Starr has also been named as a leading candidate to play Dracula, although negotiations are reportedly continuing.
When Is Blade’s Release Date?
Blade was originally scheduled to be released in theaters on November 3, 2023, but Marvel Studios has pushed it back to September 6, 2024. The company has been very particular about which films will get a theater release and those that will be streamed on Disney+.
Where Was The New Blade Movie Filming In Atlanta?
Blade was originally shooting footage around Atlanta in late summer 2022, including at Tyler Perry Studios, for Disney. The film is filming under the pseudo-name “Perfect Imprints.”
The film was also set to film in New Orleans at some point.
