Mahershala Ali Nearly Exited "Blade" Movie; 'Logan' Writer Hired to Revamp Troubled Marvel Project

Struggles with Marvel's "Blade" reboot sees script changes downgrade Mahershala Ali to fourth lead, sparking almost-exit from actor, as film said to be reshot under the guidance of Michael Green.

Mahershala Ali, a two-time Oscar winner, was reportedly downgraded to the fourth lead in his own film, Marvel’s Blade reboot, sparking concerns that he might exit the project.
The Blade reboot project has faced significant disruptions, with at least five writers and two directors dropped. The project even shutdown six weeks before production commenced.
Amid the chaos and on the brink of losing their lead actor, Marvel's Kevin Feige decided to hire 'Logan' writer Michael Green to breathe fresh life into the script and overall direction of the film.
Previous versions of the script suggested a narrative led primarily by women and filled with life lessons, a deviation from the action-oriented, vampire hunting theme Blade is known for.
Despite its troubled past, the revamped Blade project has a budget of under $100 million which is relatively low for Marvel's standards. The film is anticipated to premiere on February 14, 2025.