Marvel’s Blade has had a tumultuous production history, changing directors after previous director Bassam Tariq (Mogul Mowgli) left the project. And in its second loss, the film’s current director, Yann Demange (Lovecraft Country), has also stepped away from the project, which is expected in 2025, though it was reportedly an amicable split.
With the sudden development, it’s more than likely the film will get pushed back from its 7 November release date, as it struggles to find its footing. Moonlight star Mahershala Ali was cast in the titular role as vampire hunter Eric Brooks in 2019, but it’s been nearly five years since the casting announcement.
Ali is still enthusiastic about eventually getting to play Eric Brooks, saying in a 2023 interview that he was “really encouraged with the direction of the project,” and that “we’re working on it.”
And despite Marvel’s announcement that it would only put out three movies and two TV shows a year, the 2025 calendar has five planned releases, though it could go down to four if the film gets delayed. Marvel is scrambling to find a third director in time to hit its 7 November release date, but no replacement directors have been announced as of yet.
Will Marvel’s Blade pull off the impossible and find a third director to get the project out of development hell? It’s anyone’s guess.