“True Detective” creator Nic Pizzolatto has been hired to work on the script for the Mahershala Ali-led “Blade” movie at Marvel Studios and Disney Pictures.
The project is back on track after losing the film’s original director, Bassam Tariq, in September last year over creative differences right before filming was to begin in Atlanta.
“71” helmer Yann Demange came on board in November with Emmy-nominated scribe Michael Starrbury (“When They See Us”) working on a previous draft of the script before Pizzolatto came on board a few weeks ago. Ali starred in season three of Pizzolatto’s HBO series.
The project is reportedly readying for a late May start of production in Atlanta. The intent is reportedly to make the film dark and gritty in tone and amongst the edgier MCU fare – potentially more in line with the fondly remembered Wesley Snipes films.
Snipes starred from 1998 to 2004 as the DayWalker who hunts down vampires. The original Stephen Norrington-directed first movie is still seen as the film that truly began the comic book movie wave that dominates cinemas today.
Ali, who already voiced the role in a post-credits scene of Marvel Studios’ “Eternals,” joins Mia Goth and Delroy Lindo in the film which Kevin Feige is producing.
Marvel has set a September 6th 2024 release date for “Blade”.
Source: THR
