Vampires are quite the trend right now, aren’t they?
In pop culture, they’ve crept everywhere. So much so that there’s something for everyone to enjoy. All the more reason for a film centered around Blade to seize the moment while expanding on Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) lore.
As fans are aware, a future Blade film has been cast into development hell. Even Marvel Studios has poked fun at this, with Wesley Snipes’s version of the Daywalker casting shade in 2024’s Deadpool and Wolverine. “There’s only ever gonna be one Blade.”
On the surface, the premise of a Blade film seems simple. It doesn’t need to tie too deeply into the MCU. All Blade needs to do is violently vanquish the vivacious, vampiric villains of the eve. What’s the hold-up? Are the Marvel and Disney executives trying to ice skate uphill?
All jokey references aside, I’m a patient man. So long as we get a film with Blade in a starring role, I’ll be happy. But now seems like a pertinent time to strike while the iron is hot and not give up on the project.
From the mid-2000s to the early 2010s, vampires saw a polarizing reception due in part to Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series. The books and films captured a strong audience among young girls, influencing the wider young adult genre for almost a decade. Meanwhile, children had Adam Sandler’s Count Dracula in the Hotel Transylvania franchise.
Vampire fans were wistful for the days of Blade and The Lost Boys. Some ventured into the Castlevania video game series. Others returned to classics such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the many, many re-tellings of Irish novelist Bram Stoker’s Dracula. (My favorite is the Hammer Film Production series.)
Since 2020, however, there’s been an uptick in popular varieties of vampire media. Lovers of drag queens have Slay, while other fans of comedies can consume What We Do in the Shadows, Renfield, and Day Shift. Even foreign films indulged in the craze, from Dampyr set in the Balkan region and the South Korean movie Beautiful Vampire.
Additionally, Stephen King had two of his vampire novels adapted. Salem’s Lot focused on a small Maine town besieged by the undead. Doctor Sleep, the sequel to The Shining, entails the survival of a gifted young girl under the protection of Daniel Torrance from the preceding story.
Undoubtedly, these new entries pale in comparison when it comes to the strong presence of 2023’s The Last Voyage of the Demeter (dir. André Øvredal), 2024’s Nosferatu (dir. Robert Eggers), and most topically, 2025’s Sinners (dir. Ryan Coogler).
How Blade could work in the MCU
With this popularity, the opportunity is ripe to maintain the upward momentum the MCU is headed in. Deadpool and Wolverine, Daredevil: Born Again, and Thunderbolts* have left a positive buzz among fans. The Fantastic Four: First Steps may continue that motion.
Blade’s troubles in the MCU have been mired with a revolving door of directors and cast members. If we, as fans, are stuck wondering what the deal is, we’re not alone. Mahershala Ali, the titular character, also seems confused about where the film stands.
There could be a litany of issues. Creative differences may have irrevocably split ideas. Scheduling conflicts may have hampered it. I’ve seen some say that Sinners may have influenced the plans for Blade. I don’t understand why, though, as both Sinners and Blade would each bring their own things to the cinematic table.
Speaking of Sinners, studios can learn from its success. Ryan Coogler utilized vampires to convey a message. The meaning of identity and culture within reinforces what the characters are already going through, so it sticks subconsciously with the viewers.
As for Robert Eggers’s Nosferatu, the historical retelling of the 1922 film uses Count Orlok to cast attention to social decay, redemption, and, in my opinion, Carl Jung’s “shadow” teachings.
The key here is to use vampires for something. Make it meaningful. They are symbols, analogues, and archetypes. They’re a fantastic storytelling tool.
What direction could Blade go?
Blade has a rogue’s gallery of villains and rivals beyond the obvious. Dracula should be an antagonist who is built up to. Deacon Frost is someone who was already featured in the 1998 Blade film. After his 2022 flop courtesy of Sony Pictures being so soon, the less we say about Morbius, the better.
Fortunately, Blade has more vampires to hunt. Enough for fans to sink their teeth into.
Varnae, in particular, has a history that could tie into the greater MCU. An ancient Atlantean mage turned vampire, he’s often portrayed as the first. Switching up his Atlantean history for Talokan to mirror Namor’s altered backstory in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever can mirror his change while alluding to a past of trying to become the Sorcerer Supreme. With a cameo from the Ancient One, Doctor Strange, Wong, or some predecessor to tie to Varnae, it has legs.
Baron Blood is another villain whose connections in the universe we know can be an excellent addition. In the comics, he was an opponent of Captain America and Doctor Strange, having used his vampire skills to help the Nazis in World War II. If Marvel Studios doesn’t want to go that far, that can be switched up for HYDRA. With the history of HYDRA and SHIELD, Blood’s involvement could illustrate the hidden side of the MCU’s government and politics while posing a real supernatural threat.
Then there’s Lucas Cross, Brooks’s biological father. In the comics, Cross, while dying of cancer, was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Sent to Latveria, he was bitten by an inmate and escaped to force Blade to enact a prophecy he was unwilling to commit to. With the MCU touching on heavy subject matter as of late, Cross could be an abuse allegory for male-on-male violence and advocate to “break the cycle”, a powerful message that people could take well from this type of story. Generational trauma, the expectations of family, and social decay could make this an impactful entry to the MCU. With Bob/Sentry’s past as an abuse victim in Thunderbolts*, this wouldn’t be too far-fetched of an idea.
These villains don’t even have to be standalone. One, two, or three could pose threats to Blade.
And he doesn’t have to be alone, either. Marvel still has the characters from Werewolf by Night, such as Jack Russell, the titular werewolf, and his friend Ted (also known as Man-Thing). And the hanging thread of Dane Whitman (portrayed by Kit Harrington) at the end of The Eternals could see him return. It’s been some time, so to see him fully immersed in the Black Knight role, complete with the Ebony Blade, can address that plot thread.
Blade further adds more room for new or reintroduced characters. If Marvel Studios so wanted, this could be a cohesive moment to return Ghost Rider. Plenty of other supernatural elements can be introduced to boost future phases of the MCU. Once the Multiverse Saga is over, dark magic, the undead, and spooky things can keep the proverbial ball rolling.
Don’t give up on Blade
Mahershala Ali is built to play Blade. He’s done an incredible job of portraying Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes on the Netflix/Disney+ series Luke Cage alongside Aaron Davis/Prowler in the Sony Pictures Spider-Verse film series. It’s as though the universe hand-picked him for a dream-casting. Much like how Robert Downey Jr. became Tony Stark naturally, I see the same in Ali for Blade.
Furthermore, the aforementioned success of vampire media is a huge reason to move forward with a Blade film. Vampires are in vogue. Superheroes were the moment in the 2010s and may be on the track back to it, so this mixture could be the best of both worlds.
Tweak and make whatever updates are needed, and take your time. But don’t give up on it. See it in its truest vision and make it the art it could be.
The fans will come in hordes, baring their fangs for a bite, ready for the Daywalker.