Filmmaker Bassam Tariq, known for his work on Riz Ahmed-led movie Mogul Mowgli, is in negotiations with the Marvel Studios to direct the film adaptation of the popular comic Blade. Oscar winner Mahershala Ali is set to play the titular vampire hunter. According to Variety, if Tariq officially comes on board he will be the sixth person of colour to direct a movie for Marvel Studios, joining Ryan Coogler, Chloe Zhao, Destin Cretton, Taika Waititi and Nia DaCosta. From WandaVision to Loki, 7 Best Characters Introduced in MCU Through Marvel Disney+ Shows So Far! (LatestLY Exclusive).

Playwright Stacy Osei-Kuffour is writing the script of the film with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige producing. Created by writer Marv Wolfman, Blade first made an appearance in the 1973 comic book "The Tomb of Dracula #10" as a supporting character. He is a vampire hunter--half-mortal, half-immortal--who tries to free the world from vampires as a way of avenging his mother, who was killed by a vampire as she gave birth to him. Loki Season Finale: 6 Baffling Questions That Are Bothering Us About the Marvel’s Disney+ Series.

The character became popular when New Line adapted the comic in 1998 with Wesley Snipes on board to star and followed the hit film with two sequels in 2002 and 2004. Actor-rapper Sticky Fingaz played the part in the 2006 television series.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)