Mahershala Ali’s Blade has been an interesting production to follow, with the film reeling from behind-the-scenes drama. Director Bassam Tariq left the project at the end of September, and with a recent delay in the release date, the problems seem endless. With the report of Ali’s frustration with a 90-page screenplay, an end to the drama is not in sight. The next logical production step is finding a new director to take the reins. This is making fans’ opinions run wild with possibilities.

A key ingredient to the project is having an actor like Ali in the titular role. A director that understands the beloved horror genre would be the best choice. An obvious choice would be someone like director Sam Raimi – who recently helmed Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness – but there are alternatives. One option is coming off a string of critical successes, director Robert Eggers. Someone with such an up-and-coming career is a perfect fit to handle the comic vampire hunter. Eggers’s filmography has captured the two elements of tone and story in ways that make him a fitting director for Blade.

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Telling the story of Blade requires someone who can create a spooky and unsettling tone. There cannot be a reliance on gore or more splatter-filled effects. Eggers is a filmmaker who does not need endless violence in his work. Consisting of films like The Witch and The Lighthouse, his filmography focuses on moody period pieces with occasional violent bursts. Egger’s most recent film, The Northman, redefined what he does best with historical stories. Combining the history of Viking culture with his signature sporadic violence shows his potential talent for an MCU Blade story. Rumored to be a period piece, his filmmaking style checks all the right boxes.

Eggers is fascinated with history, offering his own stylistic approach and a perfect creative opportunity to flex his creative muscles. It is Eggers’ proclaimed love for history that showcases his potential. Blade is a character who can live forever as a hybrid vampire known as a Daywalker. Having a character who lives for centuries opens the door for different sorts of horror and drama story material. A filmmaker like Eggers has a chance to create Marvel’s first genuinely scary and surprising movie. Something so unsettling that it will stick in the audience’s minds long after the credits roll.

Blade needs a story that will keep the emotional stakes relatively small. Instead of an end-of-the-world event, the focus must be building the character. The story will need to explain where Blade has been this entire time. The first time audiences meet this character, there is a need to get to know him. Getting to know him could consist of getting a soft origin story in a new MCU world to explore. The film needs to focus on teaching viewers about the vampire world instead of being a narrative set-up for the future.

The Story Can Draw Inspiration from Other Eggers Titles

     Focus Features

In his first appearance, Blade should not be dealing with a Thanos or Kang-like event. Being half human and half vampire, Blade is the MCU’s first Daywalker, a special kind of vampire in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Having abilities to roam during the daytime leaves room for drama to be explored throughout a film. Keeping the story small could focus on Blade’s struggle to live through centuries. This drama could be delivered in a moody atmosphere, thanks to Eggers keeping viewers unsettled.

Robert Eggers has recently been announced to direct a remake of Nosferatu. Described as a “gothic tale of obsession,” Blade could follow the same method. The plot of Blade could simply involve his eradication of all vampires. There is a certain tragedy to his origin via his mother being affected by vampirism. Making it his mission to kill vampires, it is possible his mother’s illness could be the reason why. Something like The Northman could make the film a perfect revenge story follow-up for Eggers.

A Fresh and Brutal MCU Experience

     New Line Cinema

Any fan knows that Marvel films can diverge from the comic source material. No matter the changes, Eggers could keep the story’s themes the same. If the film is a revenge story, it leaves him room to craft brutal action, creating something grueling and unexpected for all Marvel fans. Half the fun of Marvel stories is their focus on silly, family-friendly humor, especially in recent films. Eggers could scratch fans itching for something different, being a film that does not rely on comedy. Add in an actor of Ali’s caliber, and Blade could be the MCU’s first grounded and slightly fantastical outing.

Behind-the-scenes drama has been surrounding Blade in recent weeks. With the loss of a director and unhappiness with the screenplay, the odds seem stacked against it. Assuredly, with frustrations surrounding the project, hope might feel diminished. However, there is a serious promise for this beloved comic book character with Robert Eggers. If the MCU were to get him into the director’s chair, the finished results could be exciting. Someone as ambitious as Eggers could be the fresh perspective Blade needs to be a success.