Marvel Studios has confirmed that Yann Demange will no longer direct their eagerly anticipated reboot of “Blade.” Despite his departure, Academy Award-winning actor Mahershala Ali remains committed to portraying the iconic vampire hunter.
Demange’s exit from the project is described as amicable by sources close to the production. However, this change marks yet another potential delay in bringing “Blade” back to the big screen. The film’s production has faced multiple setbacks, including the previous departure of director Bassam Tariq in 2022 and further delays during last year’s writers’ strike.
Eric Pearson, a seasoned Marvel writer, is now scripting the “Blade” reboot, which is scheduled for release on November 7, 2025. The update on “Blade” coincides with Marvel’s broader strategic shift to a more focused content slate, aiming to release only two films per year. Upcoming titles in Marvel’s lineup include “Deadpool & Wolverine” (July 26, 2024), “Captain America: Brave New World” (February 14, 2025), “Thunderbolts” (May 5, 2025), and “Fantastic Four” (July 25, 2025).
The character Blade, also known as Eric Brooks, debuted in Marvel Comics’ “The Tomb of Dracula” #10 in 1973. Created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, Blade is a half-vampire, or “daywalker,” who wields the strengths of vampires while being immune to most of their weaknesses, save for a unique form of bloodlust.
Blade’s cinematic journey began with the 1998 film “Blade,” starring Wesley Snipes and directed by Stephen Norrington. This was followed by “Blade II” in 2002, directed by Guillermo del Toro, and “Blade: Trinity” in 2004, helmed by David S. Goyer. The character also made a brief appearance on television in “Blade: The Series,” which aired on Spike TV in 2006. Although Mahershala Ali’s Blade has not yet appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), his voice was featured in a post-credits scene of Chloé Zhao’s “Eternals” in 2021.
Yann Demange, recognized for his Emmy-nominated work on HBO’s “Lovecraft Country” and his films “White Boy Rick” and “’71,” was attached to the “Blade” reboot until his recent departure. The Wrap first reported on Demange’s exit from the project.
