“I would. I’ve always loved the character and I love him,” Goyer said when asked if he would write Marvel’s “Blade” reboot for the MCU. “I’ve been sitting on the sidelines wondering, ‘What in the world is going on? Why is it taking so long?’ Because I’m a huge Marvel fan myself, and I’ve just been totally puzzled.”

Marvel originally announced its “Blade” movie with Ali in July 2019, but development has been rocky as several writers and directors have come and gone over the years. Bassam Tariq was the first director to join the movie, but he exited in September 2022 roughly two months before it was set to begin shooting. Several screenwriters have also been announced through the years, from “Watchmen” scribe Stacy Osei-Kuffour to Michael Starrbury. Most recently, director Yann Demange (“Lovecraft Country”) exited the film last June.

Feige told BlackTree TV last summer during his “Deadpool & Wolverine” press tour that not rushing the “Blade” movie has been a big priority for the studio, explaining: “I mean, for the last two years as we’ve been trying to crack that movie, the most important thing for us is not rushing it and making sure we are making the right ‘Blade’ movie.”

Variety reported in November 2023 that “Blade” had gone through at least five writers by that time. One person familiar with the script changes said the story at one point morphed into a narrative led by women and filled with life lessons. Speculation at the time said that Marvel was still looking to make the film but on a budget of less than $100 million. Marvel Studios took “Blade” off its release calendar last fall.

“We are committed to Blade,” Feige told Omelete (via IGN) shortly after the film was pulled. “We love the character. We love Mahershala’s take on him. And rest assured: whenever we change direction with a project, or are still figuring out how it fits into our schedule, we let the audience know. You’re all up to date on what’s happening. But I can tell you that the character will indeed make it to the MCU.”

Snipes reprised Blade to great fanfare in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which grossed $1.3 billion globally. In the film, Blade humorously tells Deadpool, “There’s only been one Blade. There will only ever be one Blade.”