A Blade film was announced back at 2019's San Diego Comic-Con. The major attachment to the film was Mahershala Ali in the titular role as the human-vampire hybrid.
Plot details have remained unknown, and when the project was announced at SDCC, it seemed like there wasn't much else of a plan besides Ali starring.
Earlier this year, it was reported that HBO Watchmen writer Stacy Osei-Kuffour was hired by Marvel Studios to lead the Blade script. This was the first major development coming from the project since it was initially announced almost two years ago.
There still isn't a director attached to the film, which is unusual for Marvel Studios. For example, Jon Watts is already attached to direct the new Fantastic Four film, and that is still in the very early stages of preproduction.
Despite not having a director yet, there has just been indication that Blade will be coming out next year.
BLADE IN 2022
In a recent Facebook post, comic book writer and co-creator of Blade, Marv Wolfman, wrote, "Next year Blade" while celebrating recent and upcoming superhero movies and series. This indicates that Marvel Studios' Blade film will release in 2022, possibly even in the mysterious October 7, 2022 slot that Disney has planned for an MCU production. With production reportedly beginning late this year, a late 2022 date seems most likely.
WHERE BLADE FITS IN THE MCU
If Blade does release in October 2022, it will be sandwiched between Black Panther 2 and Captain Marvel 2, which release in July and November of that year respectfully. After no significant update on the Ali-led film during Disney's Investor Day, it is clear they are still putting the pieces together.
After Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently said that there are no plans to explore R-rated films outside Deadpool 3, that left some fans upset Blade won't be as gruesome as expected.
While the Blade character is inherently dark, a PG-13 rating could actually further his inclusion within the MCU. Not as many younger fans would be able to see an R-rated Blade film, but if it is the MCU standard PG-13, then it will fit nicely within the universe. This is especially true considering it may release between two huge Marvel properties with Black Panther and Captain Marvel; a 2022 release date puts Blade right in the middle of Phase 4.
Most fans of the character will surely hope that Marvel Studios pushes the PG-13 rating to the limit, but Ali in the role feels too perfect to mess up. Blade is a killer character that will add an interesting, new element to the MCU. This could possibly even lead to more teamwork between Sony and Marvel with a Morbius crossover.
While nothing is official, all signs point to Blade releasing sometime in 2022.
