MCU's 'Blade' Reboot Went "Off the Rails," Says Former Star

We may never know everything that’s gone on behind the scenes on Marvel Studios’ Blade, but we know for sure that Delroy Lindo is no longer involved. The acclaimed actor is currently promoting Sinners, which hits theaters this weekend, but he has all kinds of other interesting projects to discuss, including those that haven’t been released.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly published on Thursday, Lindo confirmed that he is no longer involved in Blade at all. He shared a bit about the movie he believed he would be participating in, and lamented the character he never got to play.

via: Movieweb

While promoting the upcoming horror film Sinners (starring Michael B. Jordan and directed by Ryan Coogler), Delroy Lindo looked back on his brief time working on the MCU's Blade reboot.

"When Marvel came to me, they seemed to be really interested in my input," the actor began. Kevin Feige first announced Blade's reboot, starring Mahershala Ali, way back in 2019. While some of the delays were a result of external factors, like the COVID pandemic and the joint SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, the film has also had its own internal struggles.

Delroy Lindo didn't dive too deeply into what went wrong, as the actor officially departed the film back in October last year when its release date was pulled by Marvel Studios. However, they did tease audiences by detailing how exciting the early days of the project's infancy were, and what could have been. "And in the various conversations I had with producers, the writer, the director at the time, it was all leading into being very inclusive," Delroy explained, continuing:

"It was really exciting conceptually, but it was also exciting in terms of the character that was going to form. And then, for whatever reason, it just went off the rails."

Blade hasn't been flat-out canceled by Marvel Studios. However, the film has been shelved indefinitely, with no future release date or production deadline in sight. This is usually a death sentence for a movie or show, and can sometimes happen even after a film is completed, as fans of DC's Batgirl learned the hard way. But, there is still hope for the project.

Mahershala Ali is still attached to star as Blade, a casting decision which many fans are excited about. It will take a lot to live up to Wesley Snipes' iconic portrayal in the original trilogy, but a two-time Oscar-winning actor is certainly a strong contender. Contemporary horror icon Mia Goth is also still attached to star in the film. Her character hasn't yet been revealed, but fans are speculating that she will be playing the movie's villain, Lilith. But, at the time of writing, there is currently no captain at the wheel of the ship. After Yann Demange left the film last June, Marvel Studios hasn't been able to find a replacement director. Some rumors suggest that the studio is actively hunting for someone to take on the film, while others believe that Marvel is no longer interested in making Blade.

Source: Entertainment Weekly