Marvel Signs ‘True Detective’ Creator Nic Pizzolatto To Rewrite Struggling ‘Blade’ Reboot

Blade drives a stake through a vampire in Avengers Vol. 8 #14 "The Fall of Castle Dracula" (2019), Marvel Comics. Art by David Marquez and Matthew Wilson.
Blade drives a stake through a vampire in Avengers Vol. 8 #14 "The Fall of Castle Dracula" (2019), Marvel Comics. Art by David Marquez and Matthew Wilson.

Seeking help in getting the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of the daywalker to stop ice-skating uphill, Marvel has tapped True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto to rewrite the script to their upcoming Blade reboot.

Blade joins the ranks of Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers Vol. 8 #12 "The Agents of Wakanda" (2019), Marvel Comics. Words by Jason Aaron, art by Ed McGuinness, Cory SMith, Mark Morales, Karl Kesel, Scott Hanna, Erick Arciniega, and Cory Petit.

Blade joins the ranks of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in Avengers Vol. 8 #12 “The Agents of Wakanda” (2019), Marvel Comics. Words by Jason Aaron, art by Ed McGuinness, Cory SMith, Mark Morales, Karl Kesel, Scott Hanna, Erick Arciniega, and Cory Petit.

RELATED RUMOR: Marvel’s ‘Blade’ Being Rewritten, Original Script Allegedly Ripped Off ‘Underworld’ And Was “Laughably Woke In A Particularly Distasteful Way”

Per an April 28th exclusive from The Hollywood Reporter, Pizzolatto has been working on his take on Marvel’s resident vampire hunter for a few weeks now, which rather than completely throwing out the original script written by Michael Starrbury (who most notably snagged an Emmy nod for his work on the fourth episode of Ava DuVernay’s crime drama When They See Us) will use it as a jumping off point.

Detective Hays (Mahershala Ali) is shocked to find that he is the only one moved by Woodard's (Michael Greyeyes) death in True Detective Season 3 Episode 5 "If You Have Ghosts" (2019), HBO

Detective Hays (Mahershala Ali) is shocked to find that he is the only one moved by Woodard’s (Michael Greyeyes) death in True Detective Season 3 Episode 5 “If You Have Ghosts” (2019), HBO

Notably, Pizzolatto previously worked with Blade star Mahershala Ali on the third season of the aforementioned True Detective, wherein the actor starred as detective Wayne Hays.

Not only does their established co-working pedigree lend a slight bit of sunshine to the dark catacombs that have been Blade‘s development, but Marvel’s hiring of someone who knows how to work with Ali gives credence to previous rumors which suggested that the film’s troubles were in part the result of the actor’s frustration with not being the ‘center’ of the production.

“I hear there is some drama behind the scenes with […] Blade,” briefly noted film scooper and reporter Jeff Sneider on the March 9th episode of his and film critic John Rocha’s The Hot Mic podcast. “Mahershala Ali feels like Blade is his movie as ‘this is me and you are going to build it around me’ rather than ‘this is what we are doing, now we’re going to find an actor to fit it.’”

Detective Hays (Mahershala Ali) uncovers evidence of police corruption in True Detective Season 3 Episode 5 "If You Have Ghosts" (2019), HBO

Detective Hays (Mahershala Ali) uncovers evidence of police corruption in True Detective Season 3 Episode 5 “If You Have Ghosts” (2019), HBO

Further, the fact that Pizzolatto had already begun his script writing duties well before the official reveal of his involvement suggests that the newest member of the film’s undead coven was responsible for Sneider’s previous report on the March 16th episode of The Hot Mic that the production had recently “gotten a little bit better. Things have shaped up.”

However, Sneider was left notably confused by his sources framing of this development as a positive, as they had also alleged that “the script is ‘leaner and meaner’ and that they cut out the fat”.

Source: Blade Vol. 4 #1 “Splinter Group” (2006), Marvel Comics. Words by Marc Guggenheim, art by Howard Chaykin, Edgar Delgado, and Rus Wooton.

RELATED RUMOR: Marvel’s ‘Blade’ Reboot Will In Fact Feature Title Hero’s Daughter, Kit Harrington’s Black Knight To Be Cut Entirely

“The script that I’d heard about was like 87 pages,” he detailed. “[I’d heard] that there wasn’t enough, that they’d basically shaved it to the bone.”

As to what had supposedly been trimmed, Sneider asserted, “I guess what they cut out, I’d heard, was that Blade was gonna tie-in with Eternals and Kit Harrington’s Black Knight”.

“Black Knight’s not really involved in the Blade thing anymore,” he summarized.

Dane Whitman readies his blade on Iban Coello's cover to Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade Vol. 1 #1 (2021), Marvel Comics.

Dane Whitman readies his blade on Iban Coello’s cover to Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade Vol. 1 #1 (2021), Marvel Comics.

Though official details regarding the film’s plot have yet to be released in any capacity, a supposed leak of the film’s script suggests that it will not only see the titular hero relegated to a mere ensemble member in his own solo film, but that its events will take place entirely in service of setting up his daughter, Alex, as his successor.

Brielle Brooks draws her blade on Peach Momoko's Women's History Month Variant Cover to Bloodline: Daughter of Blade Vol. 1 #2 (2023), Marvel Comics

Brielle Brooks draws her blade on Peach Momoko’s Women’s History Month Variant Cover to Bloodline: Daughter of Blade Vol. 1 #2 (2023), Marvel Comics

As of writing, Blade has yet to receive an official release date.

NEXT: Original ‘Blade’ Star Stephen Dorff Blasts Modern Comic Book Films: “They’re Making A Bunch Of Money But The Movies Suck”

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