Potential Setbacks Arise for Mahershala Ali's Blade MCU Project

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Turmoil within Marvel Studios has cast doubt on the future of the Blade movie and other projects, with issues ranging from changes in directors and writers to script problems.

Lead actor Mahershala Ali contemplated leaving the Blade project due to script concerns, prompting Marvel Studios executive Kevin Feige to bring in Logan writer Michael Green to revamp the storyline and persuade Ali to stay.

In addition to script issues, Blade faces further obstacles including a rumored budget of less than $100 million and the controversy surrounding Jonathan Majors, who portrays Kang in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel must navigate these challenges to uphold its dominant position in the film industry.

Fans eagerly awaiting updates on the highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe Blade movie may need to lower their expectations. Reports suggest that there is significant turmoil within Marvel Studios, and not just related to Blade.

Even before the WGA writers' strike caused production issues for Blade, there have been ongoing problems with the project. Unfortunately, these issues persist and have even worsened. With multiple changes to the movie's premise and a revolving door of directors and writers, it is a testament to Marvel Studios that Blade is still on their release schedule. However, there may be one critical incident that has forced the studio to finally address and resolve these challenges.

Script issues for Blade have recently become so turbulent that the film's highly-anticipated lead, Mahershala Ali, was contemplating leaving the project, according to Variety. To address this, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has brought on Michael Green, the writer for Logan, to completely rebuild the story from scratch. The goal is for the Oscar-nominated writer to not only breathe new life into the project but also convince the Oscar-winning Ali to stay.

Blade has had longstanding issues that have become increasingly apparent over the years, and there may be additional problems on the horizon despite the studio's new focus. According to reports, the film is now slated for release in 2025 and will have a budget of less than $100 million. While this may not be an insignificant sum for most individuals, it falls far below the expectations for a Marvel Studios movie in today's industry. The issue, however, is that Blade is not the studio's sole major concern; there are numerous other issues lurking beneath the surface.

One particularly prominent problem is the casting of Jonathan Majors as Kang. Shortly after the character was established as the primary antagonist for Marvel Studios' future projects, credible allegations of abuse emerged against Majors himself. This has caused some panic, as the actor has been dropped from many projects, but his involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe remains largely unaffected due to having already filmed numerous appearances, including in Loki season 2. This situation has been met with criticism from sources cited by Variety.

Marvel is facing significant challenges with the Kang storyline and the recent lack of opportunities to make changes due to the WGA strike. However, finding a way to progress with this character seems elusive. Nevertheless, Marvel's reputation and ability to generate excitement remain strong, despite lower expectations. They have hinted at a potential connection with the X-Men in The Marvels and there are even rumors of reassembling the original Avengers. However, with the introduction of Jonathan Majors as Kang and the upcoming Blade movie, Marvel needs to address various cinematic loose ends to maintain their dominant position in the industry.

Blade is currently shooting for a tentative release in 2025.

Source: Variety

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan, I am deeply concerned about the potential setbacks that Mahershala Ali's Blade MCU project is facing. The reported script issues, director and writer changes, and budget constraints are all cause for concern. I worry that these challenges could lead to a less-than-stellar film, which would be a huge disappointment for fans of the character and the MCU.

At the same time, I remain hopeful that Marvel Studios will be able to overcome these obstacles and deliver a great Blade movie. The studio has a proven track record of success, and I believe they will be able to find a way to make Blade a success. I am particularly excited about the potential for the film to explore the character's rich history and mythology, and I hope that Marvel Studios will take full advantage of this opportunity.