Bassam Tariq tapped to direct Marvel’s Blade
Deadline is reporting that Marvel Studios has found its director for its upcoming Blade movie, tapping Bassam Tariq to helm the picture in which Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali will star in the title role.
Tariq, perhaps best known for his work on the film Mogul Mowgli, is officially in talks to direct the upcoming adaptation of the popular Marvel comic book. Stacy Osei-Kuffour is on board to write the script for the film starring the vampire hunter, with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige attached as producer, as per usual.
The Blade movie was first announced by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, with Ali making a surprise appearance at the panel. Ali, who previously starred in Netflix’s Luke Cage, confirmed that he was the one who first approached the studio about wanting to take on the titular heroic vampire. The daywalker was first famously portrayed by Wesley Snipes, who has already voiced out his support to Ali following the announcement.
The Blade Trilogy from New Line Cinema helped shepherd comic books and superheroes to the big screen. Combined, the three films brought in over $400 million at the global box office. Blade was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gene Colan as a supporting character in the comic book “The Tomb of Dracula” #10 in July 1973.