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Blade: MCU Reboot Director Praises Original Wesley Snipes Film


The original 1998 Blade film, which starred Wesley Snipes, paved the way to the comic book genre that we all know today. We can pretty much say that, without its success, we wouldn't have the X-Men films, the Spider-Man films, or the birth of the superhero universe franchises that have been dominating our culture.

Now, Marvel Studios is currently working on a new Blade film that will introduce the iconic vampire hunter to the MCU. Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali is set to play the titular role. Mogul Mowgli director Bassam Tariq was hired to direct while Watchmen writer Stacy Osei-Kuffour is writing the screenplay. Filming is set to begin by next year.

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In a recent interview with CinemaBlend, Tariq spoke about the legacy of the original Snipes films and their influence on him as he is helming a new take on the character. He said, "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."

He also praised his collaborators on the project, "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."

We really can't deny that the original Blade films with Snipes were influential to the comic book genre today and they will certainly be an inspiration to the MCU's new take on the character. It is nice to hear Tariq praising the Snipes films since it shows that he respects the makers behind them and he will do everything to do justice on bringing the character to a new life.

Making a new Blade film is definitely a tall order. The audience already has expectations and preconceptions on how they want to see the character. A lot of them still have the Snipes films fresh in their mind. But then Marvel Studios has a great track record when it comes to their films and there is no reason to believe that they won't deliver on this project. Ali is an award-winning actor and we know that he can deliver great performances. Tariq is a rising filmmaker in the industry who is set to have a great career. We can confidently say that the project is in good hands.

Also Read:Blade: October 2022 Release Date Rumor Has Been Dismissed

As of now, there's still no official release date for Blade. It has been speculated that the film will be released around 2023.

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