Marvel's Blade Reportedly Being Made for Under $100 Million After Multiple Creative Changes

A new bombshell report in Variety today details some of the major issues surrounding the MCU, including its long-troubled Blade reboot.

As has been reported, Blade has gone through multiple creative overhauls, with at least five different writers and two directors. What’s new in the Variety report, though, is some of the creative changes that the script went through – and the low budget it’s apparently being produced for now.

According to the Variety report, there was one version of the script that bumped Oscar-winning star Mahershala Ali down to fourth lead, with a story led by women and “filled with life lessons.” As Variety reports, it was previously rumored that Ali grew so frustrated with the script that he considered leaving the project altogether.

Now, as returned Disney CEO Bob Iger grapples with the MCU’s creative and financial issues, Variety reports that “speculation around town” is that Blade is being made on a budget of less than $100 million – a pretty staggering number considering how much Marvel movies usually cost. For example, Marvel reportedly spent $274.8 million on its next movie, The Marvels.

Iger's also brought on Oscar-nominated Logan writer Michael Green to "start anew," Variety reports.

Blade’s Long, Troubled History

Countless reports have emerged over the trouble surrounding Blade since Marvel originally announced the project at San Diego Comic-Con 2019. In 2021, it was revealed that Bassam Tariq would direct Blade – however, Tariq left the project 2022, shortly before it was scheduled to start filming.

That would cause the first delay for Blade as the production embarked on a search for a new director. Lovecraft County director Yann Demange was eventually hired for the job, with reports emerging that he would attempt to bring a grittier flair to the MCU.

Meanwhile, among its many writer changes, Blade brought on Nic Pizzolatto to work on the script back in April, marking a True Detective reunion between him and Ali. The Blade was sheathed yet again, however, amid the writers’ strike, as additional work still needed to be done on the script.

The WGA strike ended in September, meaning that the script can now be worked on again. The actors’ strike, however, continues, with SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood’s studios still in negotiations this week.

Regardless, here’s hoping we can see some glance at this new take on Blade shortly. For more on today’s big Variety report, read about how Marvel executives apparently considered bringing back the original Avengers gang for a new movie, as well as pivoting to Doctor Doom following Jonathan Majors’ arrest.

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.