'John Wick' Director Chad Stahelski Asked Marvel If He Could Direct 'Blade' Reboot

The John Wick franchise’s director and former stuntman Chad Stahelski has revealed that he spoke to Marvel‘s Kevin Feige about directing the Mahershala Ali-starring Blade reboot. Speaking to Comicbook in a recent interview, Stahelski said that he had actually met with Feige to discuss potentially working on a project together.

“Marvel was very influential in my career. I owe them a great deal. Kevin [Feige] is an awesome guy and I’ve worked for him many times on second unit,” said the John Wick director. “After John Wick 3, he was nice enough to carve out a big chunk of time and have nice talk…. And he actually asked me, ‘What could we ever do?’ I was like, ‘Look, I’m not going to lie to you. I don’t know if I fit that kind of studio mold, but Blade would be the one interesting thing I’d like to do.’”

Ultimately, the studio went with Mogul Mowgli director Bassam Tariq instead, but Stahelski said he understands Marvel’s decision. “I don’t know if I would’ve been the best choice for that in the direction they wanted to go,” he concluded. “If you want to do the edgy rated R version, yeah, give me a call. If you want to be non-apologetic, yeah. That’s me. But I think they’re protecting their brand, they’re doing their thing. The individual they selected, I think is a very good director, and I think will do a great job in the direction that I think they want to take the property.”

Blade is now scheduled for November 3, 2023.

Elsewhere in entertainment, Lady Gaga has been confirmed as a cast member alongside Joaquin Phoenix in Joker: Folie à Deux.