Wesley Snipes Snips at Troubled ‘Blade’ Remake: Execs Are ‘Still Looking for the Secret Sauce’
“Blade” star Wesley Snipes has no time for the mess of the MCU.
Snipes posted on X about the upcoming remake being plagued by rewrites and an exodus of directors. The project was first announced in 2019 with Mahershala Ali taking on the lead role that Snipes previously played. The film is set for a November 7, 2025, and recently lost director Yann Demange while gaining new screenwriter Eric Pearson.
More from IndieWire
“Blade, lordylordylordy,” Snipes wrote. “Folks still lookin for the secret sauce, ridin snowmobiles in traffic, kinda rough. Daywalkers make it look easy, don’t they?”
Snipes starred as the titular character in the eponymous 1998 film. He returned for 2002’s “Blade II,” directed by Guillermo del Toro, and 2004’s “Blade: Trinity.”
The new “Blade” was first announced to be helmed by Bassam Tariq; he exited in September 2022, approximately two months before the film was set to begin filming. A Variety report in 2023 alleged that Marvel was trying to make the film with a budget of less than $100 million after the writers strike.
Mia Goth was also announced at the time to be joining the cast. Past screenwriters included Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Michael Starrbury, Michael Green, and “True Detective” creator Nic Pizzolatto.
Oscar winner Ali met with Marvel chief Kevin Feige to pitch a reimagining of the comic book series centered on character Eric Brooks AKA Blade, who is a half-vampire without the weakness of being sensitive to daylight. The character uses his powers to kill vampires. Lead actor Ali told Entertainment Weekly that he was still “encouraged” about the project despite its setbacks.
But Snipes isn’t the only original “Blade” star who has taken issue with the remake. Stephen Dorff told The Daily Beast that no director could do what original helmer Steve Norrington achieved for the adaptation.
“Marvel is used to me trashing them anyway,” Dorff said. “How’s that PG ‘Blade’ movie going for you, that can’t get a director? Because anybody who goes there is going to be laughed at by everyone, because we already did it and made it the best. There’s no [original ‘Blade’ director] Steve Norrington out there.”
Best of IndieWire
Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
