Mahershala Ali Is In Awe With His ‘Blade’ Director

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Ever since Marvel Studios announced its secret movie project Blade at 2019 San Diego Comic Con with two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali playing the titular role, the hype surrounding the movie has been immense. According to many rumors this will be the second R rated film produced by Marvel Studios [first would probably be Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool 3]. It will be the reboot of highly successful Wesley Snipes’ Blade Trilogy.

Before the release of Infinity War, when asked about characters such as Blade Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige said that they are interested in exploring the horror genre but don’t have definite plans for the character. After the Comic Con, while talking to press, Kevin Feige revealed how the project came into picture suddenly. According to Feige Mahershala Ali called the studios and pitched the project.

“ We have, for years, wanted to find a new way into Blade. We love that character. We love that world. Now with Dr. Strange, and the supernatural elements coming into the MCU, it felt like we could definitely start exploring that. Mahershala wanted to come in and meet with us. And when Mahershala wants to meet, you take the meeting. And I think he had just come off of his second Academy Award. And we were talking very polite and he was talking about what a fan he is, and then he just cut right to it, and was like 'Blade." And we were like, 'Yes.' ”

Marvel has roped in Bassam Tariq, known for Helming Riz Ahmed’s critically acclaimed Mogul Mowgli to direct the highly anticipated film and Stacy Osei-Kuffour is on board to pen the script. While speaking to IndieWire about “Mogul Mowgli,” Ahmed said,

“ Mahershala keeps texting me saying, ‘Dude, Bassam is out of this world. He’s a different kind of guy. ”

Bassam also shared his thoughts on directing the highly anticipated Marvel Film.

“ What’s exciting about the film that we’re making is [there] hasn’t been a canon for ‘Blade,’ as we’re reading through the comics and everything. Him being a daywalker is the one thing that’s been established, and you know we can’t deny what Wesley Snipes did, which was he basically got this whole ball rolling. A Black man created the superhero world that we’re in, that’s just the truth. For me to now be working with somebody as talented and a juggernaut as Mahershala Ali, and the writer Stacy Osei-Kuffour, I’m just so — I’m so honored to be working with real Black juggernauts and Black talent. For me to just be with them in this room and listen and learn as I build this out, it’s really an honor. ”

Marvel’s Blade is expected to start its production in the third quarter of 2022. The movie is expected to hit screens in the second half of 2023.