Marvel Finds Their 'Blade' Director, Hires Yann Demange

 

by Darian Scalamoni

    It has been since July 2019 that 2-time Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali was brought in for a meeting with Marvel and asked to "pick a character" that he would want to play within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He selected the sword-wielding vampire hunter Blade, who was previously portrayed by Wesley Snipes on screen from 1998-2004. Though the announcement of Ali joining the MCU came before the 2020s, there has been a lack of news, and maybe even some that would categorize as bad news since hiring and then losing director Bassam Tariq due to creative differences. However, there is finally news on who will come in to right the ship for Ali and Marvel.

    It has been reported by multiple outlets that Yann Demange ('71, Lovecraft Country) is set to helm the reboot of Blade for Marvel and will come along with a new writer as Michael Starrbury (When They See Us, Colin in Black and White) will write the newest draft of the script. Marvel has said that it aims for Blade to have a darker tone than other MCU projects. With Demange's resume, his hiring makes sense in relation to past projects that he could be an inspired choice to direct this particular film. 

    The film was originally set to begin filming this month but due to Tariq's falling out with the studio, Marvel took their time taking pitches for weeks to find the tonal remedy and cohesiveness needed to move forward with the pic. Demange has other high-profile projects in development currently in addition to Blade including a reboot of 1981's sci-fi thriller Scanners and Exit West, feature film collaboration for Netflix with Demange directing Riz Ahmed for the Obamas production company, Higher Ground.

    Mahershala Ali is a 2-time winner in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role at the Academy Awards for Best Picture winners Moonlight and Green Book. Additionally, Ali was most recently seen (or heard) in Swan Song for AppleTV+ and his first role as Blade in a short off-screen voiceover in a post-credit scene in Eternals interacting with Kit Harington's Dane Whitman. He'll star next in the animated film, Wildwood from Laika Studios along with Carey Mulligan, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina and Jacob Tremblay which is set to be released in 2023.

    What do you guys think of the choice of Yann Demange to direct Blade for Marvel? Are you excited to finally see Ali's portrayal of Blade on the big screen? Have you seen any of Demange's past projects and if so, what are your thoughts? Sound off in the comments!