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Blade's Production Delay Hints It's A Big Part Of The MCU's Future
Blade's production delays may seem disappointing, but they're actually a good sign for Mahershala Ali's MCU introduction and the franchise as a whole. The MCU's Blade was confirmed to be in development back at SDCC 2019, right before the end of the Infinity Saga and the beginning of the Multiverse Saga. Expectations have been high thanks to Mahershala Ali's involvement, and they were reinforced in late 2021 with Ali's voice cameo as Blade in the first Eternals post-credits scene.
However, the MCU's Blade has met some obstacles since its announcement, resulting in a delay of almost one year from November 2023 to September 2024. Without any physical appearances expected until then, and considering that mystical installments like Moon Knight and Werewolf By Night are expanding the darker corners of the MCU, Blade's late arrival in the Multiverse Saga seems worrying. However, this is actually a good thing for Blade and the MCU as all the behind-the-scenes efforts that are clearly going into Blade suggest that it isn't just another MCU movie. Marvel Studios is clearly eager to get Blade exactly right as part of the MCU's key to continued success.
Why Marvel Is Taking So Long To Release Blade
Before the delays, Blade was originally set to release between The Marvels and Captain America: New World Order. But a 2023 release date would have required the script to be finished by mid to late 2022 and the filming to begin by early 2023, at the latest. The creative minds behind Blade seem to have been unsatisfied with the script, which resulted in the departure of original director Bassim Tariq and a considerable change in release dates. While Marvel Studios was quick to bring in Moon Knight writer Beau de Mayo to rewrite Stacy Osei-Kuffour's script, Blade will still need to be pushed back to September 2024 while they find a new director, which will also bring delays for Deadpool 3, Fantastic Four, and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Compared to the movie that originally preceded it, 2023's The Marvels, Blade has a big challenge with the audience. The Marvels already runs on the foundations set up by Carol Danvers' introduction in 2019's Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau in 2021's WandaVision, and Kamala Khan in 2022's Ms. Marvel. Blade, on the other hand, has only been promoted by Mahershala Ali's involvement and Blade's voice cameo in Eternals. Hence, less than a year of production, from development to release, would have been extremely limiting for a new Marvel property.
What The Newest Blade Delay Means For The MCU's Future
The delays of various Phase 5 and 6 movies make it clear that Blade can't just be moved around the MCU's slate arbitrarily. Whatever happens in Blade, it seems to set up Mahershala Ali's Eric Brooks as a key character before the Avengers assemble again in Avengers: Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. So far, Eternals already suggested that Mahershala Ali's Blade knows something important about the Ebony Blade's mystical properties, and that he may assist Dane Whitman in his future adventures as the Black Knight. Werewolf By Night introduced a variety of legendary monsters, which may call for Blade's vampire hunter skills as well. And the potential alliance of mystical characters such as Moon Knight, Wong, and Doctor Strange could result in a MCU Midnight Sons team-up, which would be the perfect place for Blade. Without Blade's proper introduction, these possible storylines would either stumble or make it obvious that Marvel's most famous vampire hunter simply couldn't arrive in time.
Why Blade's Delays Could Be Good For The MCU
Marvel Studios' focus on getting Blade right may give him a similar role to the one Iron Man had in Phase 1. Jon Favreau's directorial sensibilities, Kevin Feige's vision, and Robert Downey Jr.'s input helped Iron Man kickstart the MCU with the right foot, and its legacy continued all throughout the Infinity Saga and beyond Iron Man's departure in Avengers: Endgame. Likewise, Mahershala Ali's devotion for Blade and Marvel Studios' commitment suggest that the wait will be worth it, even if that means that Blade and other movies will take a longer time to arrive. Once Marvel solves Blade's production problems, it will be clear that the delays prioritized quality over speed.
