Blade Director Defends ‘Good Dude’ Kevin Feige After Marvel Scrapped Mahershala Ali’s 1920s Vampire Movie
Marvel Studios has canceled its Blade movie project, which was set to star Mahershala Ali as the vampire hunter in a 1920s-set adventure. Director Bassam Tariq, who was the first of two directors attached to the now-defunct film, reflected on his exit from the project in an interview with Vulture, describing the experience as making him feel like a “failure.” However, Tariq emphasized that he harbors no ill will toward Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios’ creative head, calling him a “good dude” and declining to blame Feige for the project’s cancellation. Despite his disappointment, Tariq provided new insights into the film’s story during the Vulture interview, offering a glimpse into what the MCU’s Blade adaptation might have been. The cancellation marks another significant shift in Marvel’s film slate, as the studio has faced recent challenges with project delays and creative overhauls across multiple franchises.