Just last week, Marvel Studios pulled Blade from the release schedule. While it’s been a five-year struggle getting the film off the ground, don’t take this to mean it’s dead. Take this with a grain of salt, but scooper Daniel Richtman says Blade is still on track to shoot next year after a new script is completed.
The rumor says that a “dark and R-rated” Blade reboot will begin production in the UK in 2025. He adds that it will have a “smaller budget than other recent Marvel films.” That could be a good thing depending on who the director is. Someone more familiar with practical effects might do a bang-up job on a low-budget movie about the Daywalker.
A new script is reportedly being written, as well. Eric Pearson was the sixth writer to take a shot at Blade, and last we heard it was looking good. Apparently, that’s not the case. It’s unclear if Pearson is the one writing this new draft or if someone else has been hired.
There are new rumors about Blade just about every day, so don’t take anything as gospel unless you hear it from Marvel Studios or you start seeing some actual production taking place. Mahershala Ali remains aboard to play the vampire hero, and at this point he might as well stick it out until the end.