Fighting vampires is not easy work. But it seems like making a movie about fighting vampires is even more difficult. At least, that’s what it looks like if you’ve been following the development of Marvel Studios’ Blade starring Mahershala Ali. After the project was announced in Hall H at San Diego Comic Con 2019, it has faced many setbacks. And now the latest one is due to the departure of its latest director.

According to The Wrap, Yann Demange has vacated the director’s chair for The Daywalker’s upcoming feature film. The French-Algerian filmmaker is the second director to depart the production. Bassam Tariq left in 2022 due to shifts in the production schedule. Sources say that Demange actually parted ways a while ago and the split was an amicable one. 

At this time, no replacement has been announced. Those close to the situation are saying that it’s much more important that they get the film right rather than “getting the film out.” If that’s the mindset, it could be a while until Kevin Feige and company fill the position.

Vampire Tales

Mahershala Ali as Cottonmouth in Luke Cage

Blade is currently set to debut on November 7, 2025. However, considering the studio’s outlook on the film and the recent mandate by Disney to scale back in order to release fewer Marvel movies and TV shows per year, there’s a good chance that it will get pushed back again. Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, and The Fantastic Four are already on the docket for 2025 along with the half-human vampire hunter. Further delays like losing another director and leading man Ali filling up his schedule with projects such as the new Jurassic World sequel may see the Phase Six film move to 2026 or later. 

As the search for a new director starts up again, the script is currently undergoing rewrites as well. Watchmen and PEN15 writer Stacy Osei-Kuffour originally penned the script. Michael Starrbury was next in line when Demange first boarded the project. Then  Nic Pizzolotto of True Detective fame did a rewrite last year. Now, Marvel veteran Eric Pearson is taking a pass at the script. In addition to writing four Marvel One-Shots and doing uncredited rewrites on four MCU features, he is credited with writing Thor: Ragnarok, Black Widow, Thunderbolts*, and The Fantastic Four. With any luck, once he has completed his work, Pearson’s script can attract and retain a new director, as well as the film’s star who has reportedly been unhappy with previous versions of the story. 

So, what do you think about the Blade movie?

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