Is Marvel Cancelling ‘Blade’ and ‘Armor Wars’? Insider Scoop Hints at an Imminent Decision

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As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) under my belt, I can’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and concern as I watch the developments surrounding ‘Blade’ and ‘Armor Wars.’

As a dedicated gamer, I’m always excited about the latest news from Marvel Studios. They’ve got an impressive lineup of projects brewing, some of which are just whispers on the grapevine while others have been in the works for quite some time—some even predating the SAG-AFTRA strike that momentarily paused the industry.

Amidst all the excitement about the upcoming X-Men remake, new Avengers movies, and Daredevil: Born Again, it’s possible some projects might get overlooked due to their prolonged development, with no definitive release date or recent news updates.

Currently, two challenging ventures under Marvel’s belt are the ‘Blade’ remake starring Mahershala Ali as the lead character, and the long-awaited project, ‘Armor Wars.’ This project has seen numerous transformations, moving from a film to a series and then back again over the course of more than ten years in production.

‘Armor Wars’ was initially planned as a movie adaptation of the comic book series with the same title, intended to be released after ‘Secret Invasion’, which came out last year, and before ‘Ironheart’ in 2025. As far back as 2011, Don Cheadle announced that a War Machine film was under development, with Joe Robert Cole contracted to write the screenplay.

By 2020 during Disney’s Investor Day, it was announced that ‘Armor Wars’ would be a Disney+ series with Don Cheadle reprising his role as James Rhodes. In 2021, Cheadle hinted at production starting soon, and later that year, Yassir Lester joined the team as head writer. However, in September 2022, Marvel made another change, transforming the series into a feature film while keeping both Cheadle and Lester on board. Filming was initially scheduled for early 2023 at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, but it was delayed due to the SAG-AFTRA strike that affected the entire industry.

While some might contend that ‘Armor Wars’ not featuring Iron Man seems illogical, the current situation is indeed as stated.

The character ‘Blade’ is finding itself in a similar predicament, although regular updates provide some reassurance. Mahershala Ali, who initially proposed the project and was chosen to play Blade back in 2018, has been grappling with script issues and numerous shifts in writers and directors. These hurdles have resulted in constant postponements, and while there’s faith that the movie will eventually be released, its fate remains uncertain.

Recently, Ali’s legal representative voiced disappointment about the prolonged stalemate in the movie’s progress, as it hasn’t moved beyond development despite numerous attempts to initiate production. Various leaks indicate conflicting opinions, with some speculating that delays might be due to Ali’s involvement, while others attribute them to concerns over the script quality.

Despite the recent speculations, there’s cause for concern about these ongoing projects. Although ‘Blade’ is scheduled for release in November 2025, there’s a strong possibility that the movie might not get finished at all.

Based on what Daniel Richtman shared on his Patreon, it seems that the future of both ‘Blade’ and ‘Armor Wars’ is expected to be determined within the next few months. This could be a crucial turning point for both movies.

According to reports, Marvel Studios is expected to make some decisions about the future of ‘Blade’ and ‘Armor Wars’ within the next few months. (via @DanielRPK)

— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) September 4, 2024

The potential development for ‘Blade’ could be favorable, as fans eagerly anticipate that the arrival of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ may pave the way for Wesley Snipes’ Blade to star in a MCU film similar to ‘Logan’. If the production of ‘Blade’ featuring Ali is called off, this possibility appears more plausible.

If ‘Armor Wars’ gets canceled, it seems unlikely that War Machine will get another project like it, unless he appears in the upcoming ‘Vision’ series or a West Coast Avengers-related story. Given this, fans have started a petition on Change.org to keep the project from being scrapped. Currently, the petition has garnered 72 signatures.

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2024-09-06 10:44