Major challenges have characterized the reboot of Blade since the MCU announced it at the San Diego Comic-Con event in 2019. Already expected to hit theaters before now, the film has encountered huge script rewrites with at least five writers working on the narrative. Two directors have dropped out of the project as fans are all undetermined on the role’s future after the first off-screen appearance in Eternals. However, recent reports tend to show that there is a new director who may be coming to the production to allegedly bring hope to the directors and the production in general.
Last seen off his sophomore film The Harder They Fall, James Samuels is now rumored to step up for Blade. His writing, by early buzz, has drawn some attention as unique storytelling coupled with a strong ensemble and former Marvel actors. If this rumor comes out to be true, he could just be the one that gives the film a new direction and finally moves a direction away from stances of the previous filmmakers and creative decisions.
There might be more hope in the air for Samuels than it was for Bassim Tariq and Yann Demange previously. Still under script revision led by Eric Pearson, who co-penned Thor: Ragnarok and Black Widow, there is an air that finally they’ve settled on the general direction. Rumors abound that this makes for happiness among the cast and crew, a very important step towards getting over the tumultuous past that has dogged the production.
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Reportedly, Mahershala Ali, who wasn’t very satisfied with earlier drafts, is eager to be part of this project now. An attachment by an actor like Ali would shift the pace of the film forward as long as he is interested in this story he believes in. It precisely works with the area of concern of Kevin Feige towards the project in hand; therefore, the reboot may be able to put its troubled beginning behind and work into productive stages sooner.
It was electric when the cast announcement initially came with news that Ali was on board. Much has changed since then in the last five years, though. The resurrection of Wesley Snipes as Blade in Deadpool & Wolverine has created talk over people asking how a reboot is necessary when the individual actor playing it still has much to contribute. Many are left wondering if indeed there is really a need for a new version when the character remains popular as is.
For instance, Ryan Reynolds has even defended Snipes’ comeback, justifying the need for a fourth film. By attaining 102k retweets on the tweet, there is a mounting feeling of the fans who think Snipes should be given due credit. There also happens to be an interesting question: in case of such nostalgia that brings the iconic characters back on stage, does the reboot make any sense in such an über-rich universe?
Amidst discussions on the future of Blade, considering the impact that the new director would have while unveiling new directions into the narrative is important. Samuels’ vision can unlock new possibilities for the character while not destroying the intricate legacy left behind by Snipes. If it does well, then it might see an interesting interpretation that could honor past stories but finally brings new stories to the MCU.
In this shifting landscape of loyalty and competing narratives, even a reboot of Blade might still find its ultimate place in the Marvel universe. Whether with Samuels or the return of Snipes, the path ahead could redefine the interface with these iconic characters, thus a landmark moment for the franchise. At a time when the future of the MCU is at an all-time high, the stakes have never been higher for Blade.
Source: World of Reel
