Marvel’s ‘Blade’ Movie Loses Director Bassam Tariq
Scheduling issues were blamed for the departure, while star Mahershala Ali is still on board as the studio scrambles to find a new filmmaker.
Blade from Marvel Comics. Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
Up until now, it has been mostly smooth sailing for the planned MCU debut of Blade to this point – star Mahershala Ali was announced as the star as a surprise at the end of Marvel’s 2019 San Diego Comic-Con panel.
Roughly two years later, Bassam Tariq was hired to direct the movie and with Stacy Osei-Kuffour on board to write the script, the movie was headed towards a shoot planned for late this year and a November 3rd, 2023, release date.
But the forward momentum has come to a sudden and grinding halt with the departure of Tariq. As opposed to the usual “creative differences”, the official story is scheduling issues.
“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 said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “We appreciate Bassam’s talent and all the work he’s done getting ‘Blade’ to where it is.”
“It’s been an honor working with the wonderful folks at Marvel,” Tariq said in his own statement. “We were able to put together a killer cast and crew. Eager to see where the next director takes the film.”
Blade, created for Marvel Comics by writer Marv Wolfman and penciller Gene Colan, first appeared as a supporting character in ‘The Tomb of Dracula #10’, published July 1973. He was popular enough to merit his own solo storylines and was particularly memorable during the 1990s.
Marvel Studios' 'Blade.'
Originally crafted as a human who was immune to vampire bites, he was later changed to Eric Cross Brooks, whose mother is murdered by the bloodsucker Deacon Frost as she gives birth. The attack passes on vampire enzymes to her child, who becomes a Dhampir – a mix of both human and vampire.
Gifted with speed, strength, and the ability to walk in the daylight (hence his other name, the Daywalker), his mission is to hunt down and destroy vampires. In his time, he’s crossed paths with many notable Marvel characters in the comics, including Spider-Man and the Avengers. He’s also battled living vampire Morbius, who had his own movie out earlier this year, starring Jared Leto.
Yet Blade is probably most famous for the trilogy of movies released by New Line in 1998, 2002 and 2004, starring Wesley Snipes as the gruff, sword-swinging character.
The MCU version’s story is so far a mystery: whether it’ll deal with Blade’s origins is unknown for now, but we can expect plenty of vampire-killing action. The cast around Ali includes Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre.
According to the Reporter’s story, production on the movie has been shifted at least a couple of times, the filmmakers requiring several script revisions, with Beau DeMayo, a veteran of Marvel’s ‘Moon Knight’ on Disney+, the latest writer mentioned.
Kevin Feige and co. are now looking for a new director to handle the film. Whether it keeps that planned November 2023 release date remains to be seen. We may have to wait a little longer than planned to get any more Blade appearances beyond Ali’s quick voice cameo in the ‘Eternals’ post-credit sting.
Marvel Studios' 'Blade.'
