Marvel Studios’ troubled “Blade” reboot, initially set for release on November 7, 2025, has faced yet another setback. In a significant reshuffle, Disney has moved the film off the schedule, replacing it with 20th Century Studios’ “Predator: Badlands.”
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The Blade reboot, starring two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, sparking excitement among Marvel fans. However, production has faced numerous setbacks, including the global pandemic and dual industry strikes. Over the years, the project has seen multiple shifts in leadership, with two directors—Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange—exiting the film. The delays were compounded further when Blade’s release was postponed several times, most recently due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
In 2021, Stacy Osei-Kuffour was hired as the screenwriter, and Bassam Tariq was brought on as the director. In 2022, the cast saw additions like Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre, but by the year’s end, Tariq had exited, and Beau DeMayo was brought in to rewrite the script, pushing the film’s release to 2024. Yann Demange and writer Michael Starrbury were then hired to replace Tariq. The release was delayed further into 2025 due to the industry strikes.
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In 2024, Aaron Pierre and Yann Demange departed from the project, followed by Delroy Lindo. With Eric Pearson joining as the new screenwriter, the future of Blade remains uncertain as the release has now been pushed beyond the previous November 2025 date.
While Blade continues to experience setbacks, Predator: Badlands is moving forward. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, known for 10 Cloverfield Lane and Prey, and starring Elle Fanning, the sci-fi action film is the sixth installment in the Predator franchise and will now occupy the November 7, 2025, release slot. The film follows two sisters as they uncover a terrifying truth about their past while traversing a desolate wasteland.