Image via Getty/Kevin Winter
On Saturday, during their massive Hall H segment, Marvel Studios released info on Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There were a number of previously-announced television series for their Disney+ streaming service, but today isn't the day to talk about that. Today, we're talking Blade.
While Wesley Snipes had been campaigning on bringing back Blade for a while, Marvel decided to go the reboot route, bringing in Mahershala Ali to take over the daywalker mantle. This move immediately brings anticipation for this film to a new level, as the two-time Oscar winner is set to receive the biggest role of his career. He's no stranger to the MCU, but this truly ups the ante.
There wasn't much in the way of information given regarding Blade aside from it happening and Ali's casting, but we're wondering: will Marvel Studios go the Black Panther route and hire a director of color to helm this reboot? And if so, who could take on this task? We've got a few ideas of which black directors could BODY Blade. Check out our picks.
Terence Nance
Notable Projects: An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, Random Acts of Flyness
With Terence Nance out of the Space Jam 2 director's chair, this could be the perfect project to slot him into. Nance, who has received critical acclaim for his HBO series Random Acts of Flyness, has a unique style, bringing in experimental flair with socially-conscious undertones. Not saying Blade needs to be more "woke," but a black half-vampire vigilante trying to be a hero? If anyone can turn this into an epic, it could be Terence Nance. —khal
Jordan Peele
Notable Projects: Get Out, Us
I’m not one of those snobs who thinks Marvel’s stronghold on the industry is the end of cinema as we know it, but as much fun as the MCU admittedly is, I selfishly don’t want to see Peele go over to their house to play, or fuck with any established franchise, really. Peele occupies rarefied air right now, one of an insanely small number of directors who are able to fill theater seats, charm critics AND crush box offices with a movie that’s—gasp—totally original and not a spinoff or inspired by any kind of content machine IP. The only other director making original true-blue blockbusters that comes to mind off top is Christopher Nolan, and even he had to play the studio franchise game first to do so. Granted, that gave us arguably the best superhero trilogy of all time. But Peele, who paid his dues in other ways, didn’t have to go through that, so why stop his momentum now? Well, because with his signature perspective, burgeoning auteurist flair and penchant for horror (which should at least be a side ingredient in any solid Blade movie) he could deliver a modern take on Blade that would be on par with Get Out and Us. Which is to say, Oscar-worthy. —Frazier Tharpe
Kasi Lemmons
Notable Projects: Eve's Bayou, Talk to Me
Kasi Lemmons' career has lowkey delved into darker undertones for a while, whether its acting in classics like Candyman or making her directorial debut with Eve's Bayou. She also has Harriet (a biographical film about Harriet Tubman starring Cynthia Erivo) dropping later this year, so it'd be intriguing to see her combine all of her gifts to bring the daywalker's tale to life. We also have a feeling that Mahershala would shine in this project under her direction. —khal
Steven Caple Jr.
Notable Projects: The Land, Creed II
Steven Caple Jr. already succeeded Ryan Coogler in the Creed franchise; why not take another cue from him and direct a black marvel hero next? The man already proved he can put together a show-stopping sequence with Creed II’s desert training montage, to say nothing of the film’s equally compelling quieter moments—some of which Caple added to the script himself. In fact, let’s get him in the chair and let him have a crack at the screenplay, then. —Frazier Tharpe
Steve McQueen
Notable Projects: 12 Years a Slave, Widows
Steve McQueen can make compelling Oscar bait in his sleep. He tried his hand at mixing his prestige sensibilities with surface blockbuster entertainment last year—and made, in our opinion, the best movie of 2018—but you all lamed out. Maybe y’all will appreciate it once the second one comes out? Marvel loves a moonshot. Tapping the guy who made Shame and 12 Years a Slave to direct a movie about a half-breed vampire hunter is the exact kind of move they’d pull. The shit that would have you double-checking you’re not reading Clickhole when the news breaks. I’m thinking about the Widows opening as I write this and now this has to happen for the sake of my own personal sanity. —Frazier Tharpe