Marvel’s “Blade” reboot has gone through multiple directors, including Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange, but Marvel boss Kevin Feige is refusing to give up on the project.
Here’s The InSneider reporting that none other than Cary Fukunaga (No Time to Die) was attached to direct “Blade,” but has left the project. It looks like Marvel was looking for someone a little more “studio-friendly” to work with, and Fukunaga exited due to creative differences.
Last month, I ran a rumor about Chad Stahelski possibly directing the Mahershala Ali-starring ‘Blade’ movie, which boasts a new draft from Michael Green and Eric Pearson. Sneider is being told that now Marvel has a new director on Blade, and it sounds like it could very well be Stahelski.
Stahelski, 57, would be a good pick. His forte is action, and there will be lots of high-octane set-pieces in “Blade.” Stahelski started off his career as a stuntman, first achieving prominence as a stunt performer and coordinator, and Keanu Reeves’ double, in 1999’s “The Matrix.” He graduated to film directing with 2014’s “John Wick,” and, ever since then, his filmography has been only composed of ‘John Wick’ movies, four of them.
Last year, while appearing on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Stahelski mentioned how he’d love to take on “Blade.” “Of all the things out there, I would take a swing at ‘Blade’ in a second,” he said, arguably his strongest public pitch for the Marvel brand that he’s ever made. “That’s one that gets under my skin; I’m like, ‘I would take a swing at that.”
Last October, Marvel Studios’ “Blade” had its November 7, 2025 date nixed from the release calendar. This in all likelihood meant that the film would not be going into production anytime soon. Ever since, Marvel boss Kevin Feige mentioned remaining “committed” to making “Blade” happen.
There have been, at least, six writers who have taken a crack at the ‘Blade’ script. What we know for certain is that Feige wants the film to be budgeted at mid-range ($80M) and rated R.