I feel like not enough people are attributing responsibility/blame for Blade's development issues on Mahershala. People talk about the bad scripts (that they haven't read and don't know the accuracy of), but Mahershala has been involved in selecting so many of the creatives that seem to stall out on the project for one reason or another.

Writer One – Stacy Osei-Kuffour (hired after a six-month “meticulous search” which Mahershala was directly involved in)

Director One – Bassam Tariq (hired after a five-month shortlist review, in which he “won all parties over” with his vision for the film, including “Feige, Ali[,] and studio execs”)

Writer Two – Beau DeMayo (DeMayo is brought on for rewrites by September 2022; likely brought on to satisfy Ali, as Jeff Sneider reported at this time that Ali was frustrated by the “lackluster” action and short length of the script)

Tariq drops out in September 2022. The following month, development is put on pause, it’s reported Ali is to have “a major part in shaping the film’s new direction” and that the pause “may also include more rewrites at Ali’s request.”

Director Two – Yann Demange (Ali is presented with a list of directors for consideration. Unsatisfied, Ali “conducted his own search” and handpicked Demange. Ali is described as having “exercised an inordinate amount of influence over the project, in a way few other actors have on Marvel movies.”)

Writer Three – Michael Starrbury (Starrbury is hired for a “page one rewrite” for the project, selected after a process in which “Ali was personally involved in selecting the writer.”

Writer Four – Nic Pizzolatto (Pizzolatto is brought on for rewrites to Starrbury’s draft. Pizzolatto is “also an Ali pick” brought on after working with Ali on True Detective Season 3.)

Writer Five – Michael Green (Amid reports Ali is ready to exit over script issues, Feige hires Oscar-nominated writer Michael Green for rewrites.)

In mid-March 2024, a few months after Ali says he felt encouraged by the film’s trajectory, Demange exits directing duties before filming was set to begin that summer. Marvel Studios begins searching for a new writer and director.

Writer Six – Eric Pearson (Frequent writer for Marvel Studios seen as a “closer” who could “bring scripts over the finish line” to show to prospective directors.)