The new Blade movie, which will be set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is going to star Mahershala Ali (Green Book) as the titular vampire slayer, is supposed to start filming in Atlanta this November so it can be ready for its November 3, 2023 release date. But first it’s going to have to find a new director. The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Blade has lost its previously announced director, Bassam Tariq (Mogul Mowgli), who is stepping away from the helm due to scheduling issues. He will remain on board as an executive producer.
Marvel provided the following statement: “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. We appreciate Bassam’s talent and all the work he’s done getting Blade to where it is.“
Tariq added: “It’s been an honor working with the wonderful folks at Marvel. We were able to put together a killer cast and crew. Eager to see where the next director takes the film.“
The cast that has been assembled around Ali includes Delroy Lindo (Get Shorty) and Aaron Pierre (Old).
Tariq had been working on Blade since the summer of 2021. A script written by Watchmen‘s Stacy Osei-Kuffour was in place when Tariq signed on, but The Hollywood Reporter notes that “Blade has seen its start of production shift at least once before, if not twice, and sources say the project has undergone several rounds of script rewrites. Beau DeMayo, who has worked on shows such as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Witcher and its animated feature spinoff, as well as Marvel’s own Moon Knight, is the current writer.“
Marvel is now searching for a director to take Tariq’s place on Blade. I would like to point out that John Wick franchise director Chad Stahelski has said that he wants to direct a Blade movie, so they should probably check with him first. If Stahelski is too busy, I also suggest the person who stepped in to direct Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness when Scott Derrickson dropped out: the great Sam Raimi.
I’m sure there are plenty of directors who are eager to take the helm of a Blade movie, so the search should be quick and easy.
Who would you like to see direct Blade? Let us know by leaving a comment below.