Marvel Studios’ next big superhero reboot will be “Blade,” a new incarnation of the vampire hunter first made famous thanks to the hit Wesley Snipes film released in 1998 and directed by Stephen Norrington. This time, two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali plays Blade, aka Eric Brooks with Bassam Tariq (“Mogul Mowgli”) set to direct. The studio has selected another cast member ahead of the film, getting in front of cameras later this year.
Deadline reports that the Marvel reboot has added British actor Aaron Pierre in a mystery role alongside Ali and veteran Delroy Lindo (“Da 5 Bloods”) in the comic book pic. Pierre recently appeared in Barry Jenkins’ “The Underground Railroad” series and the ambitious David S. Goyer-produced DC Comics series, “Krypton.” It’s notable that Goyer wrote the original “Blade” trilogy and even directed the third installment plagued with behind-the-scenes drama.
READ MORE: Delroy Lindo Joins Mahershala Ali In Marvel’s ‘Blade’ Reboot
Blade was born a daywalker (half-human and half-vampire) in the feature film trilogy and was later raised by his mentor Whistler to become a brutally effective vampire killing machine with extensive martial arts training. His primary weapon of choice is a sword that turns vampires into a flaming pile of ash and tends to use guns loaded with silver bullets as well.
It’s unclear how closely the new film will use the original R-rated “Blade” films as a blueprint for the mythology as the multi-cultural Vampire Nation was deeply embedded in human society across the globe. But Marvel generally starts from scratch and attempts to take characters you know in new directions. The latest incarnation of Blade was first introduced in MCU as just a disembodied voice at the end of “Eternals,” interacting with Kit Harington’s Black Knight/ Dane Whitman character and warning about the dangers of using the Ebony Blade.
“Blade” has a script penned by Stacy Osei-Kuffour (“Watchmen,” “Hunters”), and we’re still waiting for an official release date from Disney. Ali was first announced in the anti-hero role back at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, which feels like a lifetime ago.