The MCU’s Blade Problem Finally Acknowledged By Marvel Executive
Marvel has been largely silent on the difficulties they’ve encountered trying to adapt Blade for the MCU, but Marvel head Kevin Feige has finally acknowledged these problems. With the involvement of Mahershala Ali the movie was highly anticipated when it was first announced, but since then it has been stuck in development hell. A recent interview with Feige illuminates the root of some of those problems.
What Feige Said
In an interview with Blacktree TV about the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine, the conversation briefly turned to Blade. The bulk of the tangent was about whether or not the movie would have an R-rating in light of Deadpool & Wolverine being the first R-rated MCU movie.
Feige seemingly confirmed that the film would be R-rated, calling it integral to the character.
Feige told the interviewer, “Because there were some great Blade movies years ago — they were all rated-R. So I think that’s, like Deadpool, inherent with the character of Blade.”
While the R-rating confirmation is the most concrete statement from Kevin Feige about the future of Blade, he also gave some insight into the production issues.
“I mean, for the last two years as we’ve been trying to crack that movie,” Feige said. “[T]he most important thing for us is not rushing it and making sure we are making the right Blade movie.”
He talked about wanting to make sure Disney was making the right version of the movie and pointed out that there was already a successful series of movies featuring the character, all with R-ratings. His comments imply that the uncharted territory of making a more mature MCU movie has been a major hurdle for the film.
Concerns About Blade
Originally announced in 2019, Blade was set to be released in 2023 before being pushed back several times. Starring Mahershala Ali, the movie was going to be directed by Bassam Tariq, but Tariq left the project in 2022 causing the film to be pushed to 2024.
With Yann Demange attached as director, the movie was set for a 2024 release but was pushed back once again due to the writer’s strike.
After several high-profile bombs for the MCU and a change to Disney’s release strategy, the fate of the movie seems uncertain.
Blade is currently set to be released in November of 2025, but with the MCU cutting back on the number of releases each year many suspect it will be moved again. Others fear it will be canceled altogether.
The Original Film Series
The original film series may also be partially to blame for the delays. Starring Wesley Snipes, Blade was one of the first successful movies based on a Marvel property in 1998 and spawned two sequels. This legacy raises expectations for the MCU version, which may be another reason for the studio’s slow and careful approach.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Blade isn’t the only upcoming MCU movie with an established fan base Disney will have to appease. Deadpool & Wolverine will bring the X-Men into the MCU, a property with several beloved films made by Fox. While the MCU was able to incorporate Spider-Man into the MCU effectively, they need to prove they can consistently repeat that accomplishment.
More Updates To Come
After such a long silence about Blade, it may be reassuring to fans to hear the top Marvel executive discussing the film’s difficulties. The plan for an R-rating and the commitment to high quality are both good things for the property in the long run.
Unfortunately, Feige’s emphasis on Disney taking their time with the property may hint that more delays are coming for the highly-anticipated movie.
Source: BlackTree TV
