Report Reveals Shockingly Small Budget Allocated to Marvel's 'Blade' Reboot

Article Summary

The MCU Blade movie has faced numerous delays and changes in creative direction, including multiple writers and directors.

Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel, is intending to reduce the budget for Blade, a departure from the usual practice in the superhero franchise. The screenplay for Blade has undergone substantial revisions due to concerns regarding the character's prominence and the film's potential rating of PG-13 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

The highly anticipated MCU Blade movie has faced numerous delays since its announcement in 2019. Originally aiming for a 2023 release with a fresh take on the iconic vampire character played by Wesley Snipes, the film has undergone significant changes with multiple writers and directors. However, Marvel chief Kevin Feige's latest plan involves a surprising approach - reducing the budget.

According to a comprehensive article by Variety on the current chaos within the MCU, there are discussions to make Blade with a budget of less than $100 million. This would be an unprecedented move for the superhero franchise, considering the high production costs typically associated with MCU films. Even when the brand takes risks with movies like Eternals, they are still accompanied by budgets exceeding $236.3 million USD. The rising costs in 2023, exemplified by films like Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, have proven to be a financial burden for Disney. The upcoming film The Marvels is also expected to follow this trend, as it is projected to make only half of what Captain Marvel earned domestically in its opening weekend, with an estimated $75 million - $80 million. To break even, the film would need to gross around $439.6 million USD, let alone generate a profit.

Blade may finally find its stride with a smaller budget, thanks to Feige's successful recruitment of a talented team. The addition of Logan writer Michael Green to improve the script, along with the commitment of Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, despite initial hesitation, has positioned the project for success. Although delayed by the WGA strike in May, the recent agreement between studios and the union allows for progress once the SAG-AFTRA strike concludes. The target deadline is now 2025 to revive the iconic vampire on screen.

'Blade' Rewrites Have Completely Shifted the Narrative of the Reboot

Image via New Line Cinema

Rewrites for

Variety provided insights into the chaotic nature of the rewrites and the reasons behind Feige's decision to start from scratch. According to sources close to the writing team, at one point, the script downplayed Blade's role, which was an unusual choice considering the high-profile casting and extensive marketing efforts for Ali. Additionally, the film was said to be filled with valuable life lessons and centered around a female protagonist. Needless to say, this would have been a major risk and may not have been well-received by fans who have been eagerly anticipating Blade's return since 2004.

Concerns still exist regarding the direction of Blade. It's understandable that fans are worried about the possibility of the hero being constrained by the PG-13 nature of the MCU. Feige has hinted at this, stating in 2021 that, aside from Deadpool 3, there were no plans for stories that couldn't be handled appropriately with a lower rating. As the film progresses and finally emerges from development challenges, more questions about Blade are sure to be answered.

Stay tuned here at Our website for more on the Blade reboot film. Check out our full guide on everything we know so far about the project and the people who've been attached.

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan, I have mixed feelings about the news that Marvel's 'Blade' reboot has been allocated a surprisingly modest budget. On the one hand, I understand that the MCU has been facing rising production costs, and that a smaller budget may be necessary to ensure the film's financial viability. On the other hand, I worry that a limited budget could compromise the film's potential and prevent it from reaching its full potential.

I am particularly concerned about the possibility of the film being constrained by a PG-13 rating. Blade is a character who is known for his dark and violent nature, and I fear that a PG-13 rating could water down the character and make him less compelling. I believe that Marvel should consider giving Blade an R-rating, which would allow the filmmakers to more fully explore the character and his world.