Wesley Snipes' Blade Trilogy Writer Wonders: 'Why Is MCU Reboot Taking So Long?'

The writer of the Wesley Snipes' Blade trilogy, David S. Goyer, has expressed his readiness to assist Marvel chief Kevin Feige in navigating the troubled waters of Mahershala Ali's MCU reboot of Blade. The project, once eagerly anticipated, has encountered numerous hurdles, leaving fans and industry insiders questioning its future.

Last month, rapper and artist Flying Lotus shared on X/Twitter that his involvement in writing music for the new Blade movie had fallen through. "I guess we are so far from it even being a possibility now but. Yeah I was signed on to write music for the new BLADE movie before it fell thru," he stated. Flying Lotus, who recently directed Shudder's sci-fi horror film ASH, expressed doubt about the project's revival but noted it would have been an exciting endeavor.

The day before Flying Lotus' tweet, costume designer Ruth E. Carter, known for her work on Sinners, confirmed on The John Campea Show that she was set to design costumes for Blade, which was planned to be set in the 1920s. This setting would have offered a unique opportunity for innovative costume and production design.

Actor Delroy Lindo, who was also attached to the film alongside Mahershala Ali, shared his disappointment with Entertainment Weekly. "When Marvel came to me, they seemed to be really interested in my input," he said. "And in the various conversations I had with producers, the writer, the director at the time, it was all leading into being very inclusive. It was really exciting conceptually, but it was also exciting in terms of the character that was going to form. And then, for whatever reason, it just went off the rails."

Blade was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, with an intended release this November. However, the project has seen multiple directors come and go, including Yann Demange and Bassam Tariq, without any lasting progress.

In a recent interview with ScreenRant, David S. Goyer, who penned the original Blade trilogy and directed Blade: Trinity, expressed his confusion and eagerness to contribute to the reboot. "I would," Goyer said when asked if he would write the new Blade film. "I’ve always loved the character and I love him. I’ve been sitting on the sidelines wondering, ‘What in the world is going on? Why is it taking so long?’ Because I’m a huge Marvel fan myself, and I’ve just been totally puzzled."

Seven months ago, Blade was removed from Marvel's release schedule, and no new date has been announced. However, Kevin Feige remains committed to the project. In an interview with Omelete in November 2024, he stated, "We are committed to Blade. We love the character, we love Mahershala's take on him. And rest assured: whenever we change direction with a project, or are still figuring out how it fits into our schedule, we let the audience know. You're all up to date on what's happening. But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU."

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Meanwhile, the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine, which featured Wesley Snipes reprising his role as Blade in a cameo, was a massive success, grossing $1.3 billion globally. Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds has advocated for Snipes' Blade to receive a farewell film similar to Hugh Jackman's Logan. Reynolds credits the original Blade films for paving the way for the superhero genre, stating on X/Twitter, "There is no Fox Marvel Universe or MCU without Blade first creating a market. He’s Marvel Daddy. Please retweet for a Logan-like send-off."

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Reynolds is in the "early stages" of developing a Deadpool and X-Men movie, as per THR. This ensemble film would feature Deadpool sharing the spotlight with three or four X-Men characters, allowing them to be "used in unexpected ways."