In this, our lord’s age of reboots, spin-offs, prequels, long-delayed sequels and all the weird permutations you can make out of those things (see:Terminator Genysis), no franchise is ever really dead, it’s just dormant. As such, folks have long speculated whether or not Marvel Studios would reboot their belovedBladefranchise, which brought the buff vampire hunter to screens with theSteve Norrington-directed 1998 film.
For his part, we knowWesley Snipesisdown to return for the role,though if Marvel were to follow their pattern of reclaimed and rebooted properties, it seems likely that they would recast the role. Marvel Earned back the rights toBlade, along with Ghostrider and Daredevil, back in 2013, and since then we’ve heard about the possibility of bringing the beloved human-vampire hybrid back a few times since then.
Last year, there was talk ofBladejoining Marvel’s gritty Netflix universe, which would be a spectacular fit for the ass-kicking, vamp-slaying hero, but there has been no official movement on the project. At the time of the rights acquisition, Marvel Studios headKevin FeigetoldEWthat the character has “potential” to enter the MCU fold, “but I think we need to find the right time.”
But the fires were re-lit again over the weekend whenKate Beckinsaleresponded to a fan question about a possibleBlade/Underworldcrossover “No. We had that idea. No… They’re busy. They’re doing something with ‘Blade.’” (quote viaCBR) However, surprising though it may be, Beckinsale isn’t necessarily attuned to the secrets of Marvel Studios, and while at aDoctor Strangefootage screening last night studio chiefKevin Feigeclarrified that there are no “imminent” plans for the character.
Here’s what Feige toldThe Playlist:
“They did ask a long time ago and I think our answer was, ‘No, we’ll do something with ‘Blade’ at some point.’ That’s still the answer,” Feige says. “We still think he’s a great character. He’s a really fun character. We think this movie going into a different side of the universe would have the potential to have him pop up, but between the movies, the Netflix shows, the ABC shows there are so many opportunities for the character to pop up as you’re now seeing with Ghost Rider on ‘AGENTS of S.H.I.E.L.D.’that rather than team up with another studio on that character let’s do something on our own. What that is? Where that will be? We’ll see. There is nothing imminent to my knowledge.”
So there you have, it you’re able to put that speculation to rest for a while. What do you guys think? Do you want moreBlade? What part of the MCU would you like to see him pop up in? And would you want to see Snipes return, or see the franchise started over from scratch? Sound off in the comments.
