Blade Movie Pitch By X-Men ’97 Creator Was Rejected for Being ‘Too Comic Book’

The creator of the X-Men ’97 series, Beau DeMayo, recently disclosed on social media details about his initial concept for a Blade film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and why it didn’t get approved.

What was X-Men 97 creator’s pitch for a Blade movie?

In a detailed discussion on X, DeMayo expressed his opinions about the approach taken by Marvel Studios’ head Kevin Feige and co-president Lou D’Esposito when reviewing project drafts. He particularly criticized this method and used a pitch he once made for a Blade movie as an illustrative example.

According to DeMayo, one of his ideas for The Blade movie included a significant focus on magic. In this concept, Deacon Frost would deceive a group of adventurers into revealing a vampire incantation. To connect the film with the realm of Doctor Strange, he proposed including Chthon, a character briefly glimpsed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

While Feige found the concept appealing, DeMayo raised concerns, stating it was overly reminiscent of comics and mentioned that the character portrayal of Mahershala Ali in this magical film might not align with its tone.

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Feige was positive about the idea, but DeMayo pointed out issues, saying it seemed too similar to a comic book. Moreover, he highlighted potential tonal inconsistencies for Mahershala Ali’s character given the magical nature of the film.

Lately, there have been reports that Marvel has come up with a concept for the Blade film. Mahershala Ali, who plays the character, remains connected to the role but has generally avoided providing updates when prompted. During its production process, directors Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange, along with writers Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Beau DeMayo, Michael Starrbury, Michael Green, and Eric Pearson, were linked to the movie.

It’s uncertain at this point who is currently responsible for both writing and directing duties on the project, or if any of the movie’s previously announced cast members, such as Mia Goth, are still part of it.

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2025-08-15 21:07