The Blade MCU reboot has hit another snag, as the writer's strike in Hollywood has led to Marvel Studios halting production on the film again.
Because of the widespread writer's strike in the entertainment industry, Blade production will be halted until further notice. This is poor timing since the Marvel Studios film was scheduled to start filming shortly. This is only the latest setback for Blade, which has undergone multiple changes throughout development.
The Hollywood Reporter gave the full scoop on how the latest writer's strike will affect Blade. "Marvel Studios is shutting down preproduction on its vampire thriller starring Mahershala Ali, which was set to begin filming next month in Atlanta. The feature project, which has been paused once before, becomes the first tentpole movie impacted by the strike." They added that even with the movie shutting down production for now, it will still be a busy time for Marvel Studios. "Even with the Blade shutdown, it is gearing up for one of the busiest times in the company’s history."
This is not the first time the movie has had production problems. The Blade script has gone through multiple rewrites and has even changed directors, which has led to more delays before what could be another one. These most recent production problems aren't the fault of those working on the movie; they're caused by the industry going on strike. Time will tell whether or not the film will have yet another delay after being scheduled for release in the autumn of 2024.
It is a shame this upcoming Blade movie has gone through development hell for as long as it has. Casting an acting powerhouse such as Mahershala Ali to play the iconic vampire hunter was exciting to see for Marvel fans. Better yet, Marvel diehards eagerly awaited the MCU's take on Blade, knowing that the previous franchise starring Wesley Snipes played a pivotal role in how superhero movies became the blockbuster powerhouse they are today. Seeing a modern version of the character, especially if he's included in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, could bring a whole new dimension to the MCU. That is, as long as it's done right.
Glass half-full, this could be a big break for the Blade movie and, by extension, Marvel Studios. One of the MCU's problems over the past few years has been its habit of churning out movies and TV shows by the dozen as fast as they can to keep fans invested. These new properties are not getting the reception Marvel Studios once consistently did during the 2010s because they come off like they're rushed. With this new writer's strike taking however long, Marvel Studios has some time to think about how they will execute the Blade reboot. With this added time, the MCU could use it to make Blade an even better film, which could reinvigorate interest in the MCU.
Blade was scheduled to be released on September 6, 2024, but the writer's strike may change that.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter