Marvel's 'Blade' Faces Setback as Director Yann Demange Quits The Project

Marvel's highly anticipated Blade reboot, starring Mahershala Ali, has hit another roadblock. Director Yann Demange has left the project. According to a Variety report, insiders revealed that Demange amicably departed several weeks ago due to the prolonged development of the film. This is the second director to exit the project, following Bassam Tariq, who left in 2022 just weeks before filming was set to begin.

Adding to the film's challenges, Eric Pearson, co-writer of the upcoming 'The Fantastic Four,' is the latest to tackle 'Blade''s script. Since the reboot was announced, at least five other writers, including Michael Green of 'Logan' and 'Alien: Covenant' fame, have worked on the evolving screenplay.

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Despite these setbacks, Blade is still scheduled for release on November 7, 2025. Marvel announced the reboot at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, with Mahershala Ali taking over the role originally played by Wesley Snipes in the 1998 film and its two sequels.

In May, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed a new strategy to limit Marvel's film output to three new releases per year and just two television series within the MCU. This comes in response to a series of box office disappointments, including 'The Marvels,' which had the lowest opening for an MCU film since 2008’s 'The Incredible Hulk' and 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.'

Currently, four MCU films are set for release in 2025: 'Captain America: Brave New World,' 'Thunderbolts,' 'The Fantastic Four' and 'Blade.' Another four are planned for 2026, including the fifth 'Avengers' film. The only new MCU film in 2024 will be 'Deadpool & Wolverine.'