John Wick 5 Delay? Stahelski’s Blade Move Could Be a Game Changer

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Summary

  • Stahelski now directs Marvel’s Blade movie replacing Fukunaga amid production challenges.
  • Stahelski’s success may delay Blade as he juggles numerous upcoming projects.
  • Blade offers Stahelski a new avenue to showcase his talent beyond the John Wick franchise.

After much anticipation, it appears that Marvel has found a director for their upcoming “Blade” movie – according to Jeff Sneider’s The InSneider, Cary Fukunaga was initially considered but reportedly stepped down due to his reputation for being challenging to work with. Now, it seems that John Wick director Chad Stahelski has been brought on board instead, as suggested by The InSneider. With Stahelski’s knack for intricate action choreography, fans are excited to see how he might adapt the sword-wielding skills of Blade, especially given his exceptional work in the hand-to-hand combat scenes within the John Wick series, which is widely regarded as some of the best action cinema in America.

The eagerly awaited sequel, John Wick 5, hasn’t set a release date yet. However, if it means we get to see Blade on the big screen again, we could use a bit more time passing before John Wick returns triumphantly after a few years. Interestingly, this year brings us another installment in the John Wick universe with From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. As for Blade, it’s been stuck in development limbo for quite some time now, but with the current success of Stahelski’s work, it might be the right moment to strike while the iron is hot. Fans of both franchises might find an additional John Wick film acceptable if it means a new, sharp Blade movie eventually comes our way.

Blade’s Vampirically Long Development Cycle

It’s amazing how an idea full of promise can be shrouded in complications. With Stahelski now involved with the project, it seems like this decision was inevitable all along. The idea of ‘John Wick meets Vampires’ is a ticket that fans from both series would eagerly buy without second thought. So, why has the production process been so problematic for Marvel Boss Kevin Feige and his team up to now, despite the reported move to Stahelski?

In the year 2019, it was revealed that Blade would be produced, with Mahershala Ali chosen to play the lead role. The production was originally scheduled for November 2022, aiming for a release in November 2023. However, two directors departed from the project before Fukunaga was rumored to take over: Bassam Tariq from Ghosts of Sugar Land and Yahn Demange from White Boy Rick.

It’s puzzling that these directors aren’t typically recognized for their work in action films, leading one to wonder why they were chosen initially. The simplest explanation seems to be that Marvel was looking for an affordable director who would adhere to studio guidelines and deliver a product consistent with their brand. Given that it has been almost six years since Marvel recognized the need for a skilled creative mind to produce high-quality work, the delay can be justified with Stahelski in charge.

Chad Stahelski’s Been A Very, Very Busy Boy

Due to the remarkable success of every movie directed by Stahelski, which has earned him widespread acclaim, it’s no wonder he’s currently sought after in the industry. This popularity might mean he’ll be busy for a while, potentially pushing back the start of production for Blade. If Marvel wants to make the most of this situation—and it seems they are regaining their strategic thinking—they should wait for Stahelski’s schedule to clear up and give him all the time needed for that to happen. However, he might need to adjust some aspects of his schedule to accommodate a project as significant as a Blade film.

Chad Stahelski, who is currently involved with ten upcoming films as a director, according to IMDB, is not linked to John Wick 5 at this time, though he is anticipated to take on that role. Stahelski is well-known for his protective nature towards the franchise, and justifiably so, having reportedly intervened to save John Wick: Ballerina when its previews with Lionsgate were less than promising. As Stahelski expressed to The Hollywood Reporter, “We’ve been working together on this for the past 10 years, and we’re not going to let it fall apart.

In the same conversation, he expressed his willingness to reprise his role for John Wick 5, assuming there’s a captivating narrative to unfold. The John Wick series has amassed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, with each successive film outperforming its predecessor. For instance, John Wick 4 (2023) raked in an impressive $425 million, significantly surpassing John Wick 3’s $327 million from 2019. It’s likely that the next installment of this series will generate even more revenue, but this could potentially be threatened by Ballerina if the film featuring Ana de Armas fails to meet expectations.

Blade Over John Wick Is A Sharp Choice

It’s clear that Lionsgate is keenly aware of the financial potential of their franchise, following a string of studio disappointments like “The Crow”, “Borderlands”, and “Megalopolis” last year. In light of this, they are probably aiming for a successful venture in the coming time, which could involve developing a sequel script for “John Wick” that would appeal to Chad Stahelski. The upcoming “Blade” project could offer Stahelski an exciting opportunity to explore new territory beyond “John Wick”, given his other pending projects.

This year’s movies, “Thunderbolts” and “Fantastic Four“, seem poised for a resurgence within the Marvel universe following the massive excitement generated by the extensive cast reveal in “Avengers: Doomsday“. With Stahelski potentially joining at an opportune moment, he could solidify his status as a rejuvenator of Marvel stories, complementing his reputation as a skilled action movie director.

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2025-03-29 17:54