Marvel is reportedly looking for Black writers to work on its Blade reboot movie, which will star Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali.
An article about diversity in filmmaking by The Hollywood Reporter reveals that the film's producers are looking for talent, saying: "Current projects that studios are hoping to populate with Black behind-the-camera talent include Marvel's Blade movie starring Mahershala Ali, which is looking for writers".
The article also features an insight from literary agent Ava Greenfield, who says that she has seen "an increased commitment and desire for directors and writers to have something in connection with the potential project".
Related: Blade has a long and difficult history with Marvel – here's why
"If, for example, the story is centered on [a] Black woman, there is an initial commitment from buyers to find a Black female director or writer for this project," she said. "It comes from this understanding that there has to be a connection to the material by a writer or a director."
Marvel announced that it was rebooting Blade for the MCU in July 2019, with Luke Cage, Green Book and Moonlight star Ali taking on the lead role.
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Blade is a half-human, half-immortal vampire hunter who stalks and eliminates supernatural threats, with the character previously being played by Wesley Snipes in 1998's Blade and its two sequels, 2002's Blade II and 2004's Blade: Trinity.
Very few details have yet been revealed about the Blade reboot movie, with no other cast or director announced, and it sounds like the production and writing team is still in the process of being assembled, so it could be a little while before we actually see Ali in action as the hero.
Related: Blade star opens up about Marvel reboot with Mahershala Ali
The Blade movie is not expected to be part of Marvel's upcoming Phase 4 slate of movies and TV shows, so we can probably expect to see it during Phase 5 along with sequels for Captain Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy and Black Panther.
Although of course, with the Covid-19 pandemic still ongoing, exact plans could be subject to change.
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Reporter & Sub-Editor, Digital Spy Susannah is a freelance writer and sub-editor, specialising in the entertainment industry. She graduated in 2014, with a BA in English and American Literature and Creative Writing, and an MA in Creative Producing. She’s been writing for Digital Spy ever since, after first getting involved through work experience, and has written hundreds of stories for the site on a range of topics, from The Sims to Doctor Who. Susannah has also written for Reveal Magazine. Her special interests are soaps (her Mastermind subject would be 2000s Coronation Street), Marvel and Star Wars. She can also quote far too many lines from Friends and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
