Blade to be directed by Bassam Tariq

Another great independent director has just been hired by Marvel Studios for Blade.

According to Deadline, Bassam Tariq has been invited to lead Mahershala Ali's Blade movie. The recent drama film Mogul Mowgli, which stars Riz Ahmed and has a staggering 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, was directed by Tariq.

Additionally, according to Deadline, Marvel Studios originally sought a writer who would also serve as the film's director, but ultimately decided to separate the two responsibilities.

Marvel talked with dozens of directors, but Kevin Feige was convinced by Tariq's pitch and vision.

Even though the premiere of this movie is still a ways off, the news of this hiring has all of us in this room excited.

Mahershala Ali, a two-time Academy Award winner, was welcomed to the Hall H stage by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and was "capped" off the panel by confirming his status as the MCU's Eric Brooks. The vampire hunter reboot was officially announced at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2019 with fanfare.