Despite a handful of fumbles since Endgame, Marvel Studios has long been known for its ability to churn out successful superhero blockbusters, creating a shared universe that has become a cultural phenomenon. However, behind the scenes, not every project runs as smoothly as it may appear. Specifically, two of its highly anticipated projects—Armor Wars and Blade.
According to recent rumors swirling over on Twitter (now X), allegedly coming from credible industry insider Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK), Marvel Studios is currently looking into what exactly they may need to do with both Blade and Armor Wars.
Marvel Studios will reportedly decide the fate of ‘BLADE’ and ‘ARMOR WARS’ in the coming months.
(via @DanielRPK) pic.twitter.com/PRt27YY5LX
— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) September 4, 2024
Both projects have been trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of creative shifts, delays, and uncertainty, leaving them stuck in development uncertainty with no clear plan in sight on what to do with either of them but saying Marvel Studios will decide their fate comes across rather ominous, like the studio is toying with the idea of scrapping them. Which sounds like a mistake, if you ask us.
Originally planned as a Disney+ series, Armor Wars was set to explore the world of James “Rhodey” Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine, played by the ever-dependable Don Cheadle. The show was expected to delve into what happens when Tony Stark’s advanced technology falls into the wrong hands. It was an intriguing premise, especially after Cheadle’s character was left with a significant void to fill following Stark’s death in Avengers: Endgame. However, Secret Invasion saw a curious fate for Rhodes, who was replaced at some point by a Skrull. And we are still left to wonder just how that may play into the larger narrative of the character’s developmental growth.
Then in 2022, Armor Wars was retooled from a series into a feature film, an unusual but not unprecedented move for the studio. Yet, despite this reshuffling, new details have been sparse, and now, there’s growing speculation that Marvel Studios might be unsure whether to move forward with the project at all. Fans have waited with bated breath for updates, but with no production start in sight, Armor Wars feels increasingly like it’s slipping through the cracks of Marvel’s sprawling, ever-expanding slate, especially amidst some misfires among the more recent entries in its latest phase of films.
And while Armor Wars has been bouncing between formats, Blade has had its own turbulent journey. Announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, the reboot of the vampire hunter franchise was seen as a huge win for Marvel Studios, especially with two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali cast in the titular role. For many, Ali’s involvement signaled that Blade could become one of Marvel’s more exciting, critically acclaimed films, similar to what Black Panther achieved in 2018.
But since that exciting announcement, the film has been stuck in development hell. A revolving door of writers and directors has plagued the project, with major departures and rewrites dragging out the process. Most notably, in 2022, director Bassam Tariq exited the project, sending the film back into creative purgatory just as it was gearing up for production. To add insult to injury, Ali’s only contribution to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) so far has been an off-screen line of dialogue in Eternals, leaving fans yearning for something—anything—more from the actor and the character.
The delays and uncertainty surrounding Armor Wars and Blade are troubling not only because they involve two beloved Marvel characters but also because they star two immensely talented Black actors—Don Cheadle and Mahershala Ali. Both actors are celebrated in Hollywood, with Cheadle earning acclaim for his portrayal of Rhodey across multiple Marvel films and a lengthly list of performance awards and accolades across his career, and Ali lauded for his performances in Moonlight and Green Book, which earned him two Oscars.
For Marvel Studios, canceling either project would be a risky move, and the optics would be especially poor. With the MCU striving to promote more diverse storytelling and casting in recent years, abruptly pulling the plug on two major projects with Black leads would no doubt spark some serious controversy. In a landscape where the push for greater representation is more important than ever, shelving Armor Wars or Blade would send the wrong message, undermining the progress made with franchises like Black Panther.
Cheadle and Ali deserve better, and so do fans who have been eagerly awaiting these projects. While the studio remains silent on their official plans for Armor Wars and Blade, the pressure is mounting for Marvel to make definitive decisions soon. In an industry where delays and development changes are common, the prolonged uncertainty surrounding these projects feels like a misstep that could further erode trust and excitement.
