Marvel Studios’Bladereboot has signed onLovecraft Countrydirector Yann Demange to helm from a script written by Michael Starrbury. The search for a new director the lead the Mahershala Ali film was launched after Bassam Tariq stepped down from the role.
Marvel Studios’Bladewas first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, where Ali joined Kevin Feige on stage to announce his casting as the titular Daywalker. However,Bladehad been pausedafter Tariq’s exit in September 2022 following shifts in the production schedule as the creative team behind the film struggled to nail the script.
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Deadlinereports Demange signed on to directBladeafter Marvel Studios took meetings and heard pitches from candidates for weeks. Demange landed the directing job after hisBladepitch impressed Marvel Studios executives, who are said to be aiming for a darker tone than past MCU projects. At the time of Tariq’s exit, Beau DeMayo was listed as the currentwriter of the newBladefilm, taking over from Stacy Osei-Kuffour after multiple rewrites throughout development. However, Starrbury is writing a new script, with production now scheduled to begin in Atlanta next year.
In addition to directing the first episode ofHBO’sLovecraft Countryadaptation, Demange made his feature film directorial debut with the historical action thriller'71. The critical success of the film would lead to him directing Matthew McConaughey inWhite Boy Rick, a loose telling of the story of 14-year-old FBI informant Richard Wershe Jr. Starrbury, on the other hand, is best known as one of the writers ofWhen They See Us, a miniseries created, co-written, and directed by Ava DuVernay that told the story of the Black and Latino suspects falsely accused of and prosecuted for the rape of a white woman in the “Central Park jogger case.”
While some fans wondered ifMarvel’s schedule shits were a sign of trouble, it seems the studio deliberately paused production onBladeto spend the appropriate amount of time searching for a new director instead of rushing the process to meet the original production timetable. Considering both Demange and Starrbury have experience working on critically acclaimed projects, Marvel Studios' patience is likely to pay off.
Marvel Studios has had trouble withBlade, but now the project is back on track. While the long wait may be intolerable for fans, the delay can only helpBladereach heights worthy of an actor like Ali.
Bladeis currently scheduled to be released in theaters on July 12, 2025.
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