Marvel Studios' new 'Blade' movie has lost its director. As "Hollywood Reporter" reports, filmmaker Bassam Tariq (35) has left the project with two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (48) as the vampire-hunting title character. The reason given by Marvel Studios is "continuing shifts in the production schedule". Filming on "Blade" was originally scheduled to begin in November. The theatrical release is again scheduled for November 2023. The director leaving so shortly before the start of shooting can be described as unusual.

In addition to Ali, Delroy Lindo (69) and Aaron Pierre (28) have already been confirmed as actors for the new MCU film. Director Tariq, who has now quit, thanked Marvel in a statement and said he was excited to see "which direction the next director will take the film". According to The Hollywood Reporter, the screenplay for Blade has been revised several times by different writers. So far, this has also led to at least one postponement of the start of filming.

Marvel Studios are looking for a new director after Tariq's departure. The date of the start of filming has not yet been determined. Between 1998 and 2004, three "Blade" films starring Wesley Snipes (60) as a vampire hunter were released in cinemas. The character originally comes from the Marvel Comics, but the new "Blade" film is the first to be set in the so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe of interconnected cinema films and streaming series and created under the aegis of Marvel Studios.