Nic Pizzolatto Re-Writing Marvel’s ‘Blade’

‘True Detective’ Creator Nic Pizzolatto Working on Marvel’s ‘Blade’ Script

The vampire-slayer’s introduction to the MCU, which is set to star Mahershala Ali, has already been through some bumps on its road to the screen.

Marvel Studios' 'Blade.'

On the big screen, we’ll be expecting to see 'Blade' deal with the threat of vampires. But to get there, at least as part of the MCU, the character has had to deal with something far trickier ––development issues.

Despite all the excitement over the announcement that Oscar winner Mahershala Ali would play the character during Marvel’s 2019 Comic-Con panel, the progress has been slow.

‘Mogul Mowgli’ director Bassam Tariq was hired to make the movie, only to depart over scheduling issues –– and given a shift in writers to Michael Starrbury, also seemed to indicate problems with the script.

‘White Boy Rick’s Yann Demage came aboard in November last year, but writing-wise, there is, according to The Hollywood Reporter, another change in the cards on the script front. ‘True Detective’ creator Nic Pizzolatto has been working on a draft based on Starrbury’s for a few weeks now.

He’s writing as quickly as possible, as the movie is scheduled to shoot at the end of this month in Atlanta.

Blade

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An upcoming film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) sixth Phase and part of The Multiverse Saga, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Plot... Read the Plot

‘True Detective’ reunion

Pizzolatto’s presence does indeed mark a ‘True Detective’ reunion, since Ali starred as Detective Wayne Hays in the third season of the anthology show (a fourth, starring Jodie Foster is on the way this year, but no longer involves Pizzolatto as showrunner.)

Mahershala Ali in HBO's 'True Detective' Season 3.

Where does Blade fit into the comics?

Originally crafted by Gene Colan and Marv Wolfman as a human who was immune to vampire bites, he was later changed to Eric Cross Brooks, whose mother is murdered by the bloodsucker Deacon Frost as she gives birth. The attack passes on vampire enzymes to her child, who becomes a Dhampir – a mix of both human and vampire.

Gifted with speed, strength, and the ability to walk in the daylight (hence his other name, the Daywalker), his mission is to hunt down and destroy vampires. In his time, he’s crossed paths with many notable Marvel characters in the comics, including Spider-Man and the Avengers. He’s also battled living vampire Morbius, who had his own movie out earlier this year, starring Jared Leto.

Yet Blade is probably most famous for the trilogy of movies released by New Line in 1998, 2002 and 2004, starring Wesley Snipes as the gruff, sword-swinging character.

The MCU version’s story is still so far, a mystery: whether it’ll deal with Blade’s origins is unknown for now, but we can expect plenty of vampire-killing action.

Blade from Marvel Comics. Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.

Who else is in the new movie?

Around Ali, Team Marvel has cast the likes of Delroy Lindo, ‘The Underground Railroad’s Aaron Pierre and, more recently, Mia Goth, star of ‘X’, ‘Pearl’ and ‘Infinity Pool’.

Assuming no more interruptions or major changes, Marvel is aiming to have ‘Blade’ in theaters on September 6th next year.