Marvel Studios’ Blade has been stuck in development purgatory for years, but a major shake-up could finally get the Daywalker back on track. According to a new report, John Wick director Chad Stahelski is now the frontrunner to take the helm, following a long line of filmmakers who’ve cycled through the troubled project.
Since Mahershala Ali’s surprise casting as Blade at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, the film has been plagued with setbacks, including multiple delays, script rewrites, and director exits.
Writers and filmmakers have come and gone, including Yan Demange, and the film has been on an “indefinite hold,” adding to fan frustration.
Now, the latest draft of the script, which was penned by Logan screenwriter Michael Green and Black Widow’s Eric Pearson, has reportedly drawn Stahelski’s interest. His name first surfaced in connection with Blade last month, and new reports indicate he’s now the leading choice to direct.
Before Stahelski, another high-profile director was reportedly in talks at the end of 2024 withNo Time to Die filmmaker Cary Fukunaga. Known for his work on True Detective Season 1, Fukunaga seemed like a strong candidate. However, the deal never materialized.
The InSneider reports: “However, Fukunaga is rather famously difficult to work with. And I’m told that Marvel was looking for someone a little more studio-friendly, so it was no big deal when Fukunaga went off to direct the indie thriller Blood on Snow.”
With Marvel’s history of preferring directors who work within their system, it’s not surprising that Fukunaga didn’t stick around.
As for Stahelski, he has proven his ability to deliver stylish, action-packed films with the John Wick franchise. His stunt background, including work as Keanu Reeves’ double in The Matrix, gives him a deep understanding of fight choreography.
Stahelski previously explained that he has a good working relationship with Kevin Feige. In fact, he called Feige a mentor, saying:
“Look, I’ve worked for Marvel a bunch and they’ve been very very good to me. Kevin Feige… he’s almost been a bit of a mentor in the capacity of advice he was very happy to give me about how to open up a franchise with John Wick.”
He went on to talk about his desire to take on Blade, saying: “Of all the things out there, I would take a swing at Blade in a second. Like that’s one that gets under my skin, like ‘Ah! I’d take a swing at that one.'”
Beyond John Wick, Stahelski also worked as a second-unit director on Captain America: Civil War and Birds of Prey, making him no stranger to comic book adaptations. If Marvel is looking for a director who can bring brutal, high-energy action to the MCU, Stahelski might be the right choice to finally get Blade into production.
Assuming Stahelski signs on, Blade could finally start moving forward after years of uncertainty. Marvel’s long-term plan likely includes a Midnight Sons project, which could see Blade team up with Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night, and Clea.
What do you think about Chad Stahelski possibly coming in to direct Blade for Marvel?
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