‘Blade’ Movie Put On Hold As MCU Adjusts Multiple Release Dates

Marvel’s meticulously planned cinematic universe might have hit a few roadblocks following a director change. Blade‘s director departure has left the pre-production of Mahershala Ali’s vampire-hunter flick paused. This schedule change comes as Disney and Marvel have reshuffled some of their Phase 6 release dates.

Following Bassam Tariq’s sudden departure from Blade, Marvel and Disney have been trying to find his replacement. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel is taking its time with the task and has since shut down pre-production on the film in Atlanta. The film was slated to begin principal photography next month. The studio hopes to start production again in early 2023 with a new director.

READ: 5 Directors Perfect For Marvel Studios ‘Blade’

It also seems that this production pause led Disney/Marvel to rearrange their Phase 6 release schedule. Blade, meant to come out on November 3rd, 2023, has now been pushed back to September 6th, 2024. The third film in the Deadpool franchise has been moved from September 6th, 2024, to November 8th, 2024. Matt Shakman’s Fantastic Four was pushed back from November 8th, 2024, to February 14th, 2025. And finally, Avengers: Secret Wars has been moved back from November 7th, 2025, to May 1st, 2026.

This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise since so much of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been built around interconnectivity. When one film hits a speed bump, it creates a cascading effect on the rest of the lineup. This announcement has (more than likely) caused overworked CGI artists everywhere to breathe a sigh of relief.

What do you think about these changes? Are you still excited about Mahershala Ali’s Blade? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

—–