Marvel's reboot of Blade has taken a big step forward after finally securing a new director and screenwriter.
Filmmaker Yann Demange has been announced as the new director of the MCU's Blade, which stars double Oscar winner Mahershala Ali in the titular role. Meanwhile, Michael Starrbury has been hired to write the screenplay, Deadline reports.
Previously, Bassam Tariq was hired as the director. However, he stepped down from the position due to "shifts" in the "production schedule". That caused a delay in the film's production and it was given a new release date of September 6, 2024 – a year later than originally planned.
Related: Marvel's Blade movie hits major setback shortly before filming
The film had also previously hired Watchmen writer Stacy Osei-Kuffour to write the movie, but Starrbury will now take over. It is not known how much of Osei-Kuffour's work will be kept in the new creative direction the picture is taking.
Starrbury is best known for his writing work on When They See Us and has been hired after a long search for a Black writer. Meanwhile, Demange is best known for directing the acclaimed TV series Top Boy as well as the 2014 movie '71.
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There are currently no plot details on offer, so it is unclear what direction Demange, Starrbury and Kevin Feige will take the movie in. We have also yet to see any appearance of Ali as Blade apart from a voice-only cameo in the end-credits scene of Eternals.
In that scene, Kit Harington's Dane Whitman opens a box containing the Ebony Blade. A voice can then be heard saying: "Sure you're ready for that, Mr Whitman?" Eternals director Chloé Zhao later confirmed it was indeed Blade.
Blade has a release date of September 6, 2024.
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Jacob is a freelance writer who specialises in narrative TV and film.
He graduated from the University of Roehampton with an MA in Journalism and has written for several publications since, including Gold Derby, Insider, and Screen Daily.
Jacob has covered major events in the world of film and TV, including numerous BAFTA ceremonies and the Cannes Film Festival, while he's also been an awards expert for several publications, including Korea's Arirang. His particular areas of interest include Star Wars, the MCU, the Oscars, and Hugh Grant.
