Bassam Tariq will not be serving as the director on Marvel's upcoming reboot of Blade.
Film-maker Bassam Tariq of These Birds Walk fame has stepped away from directing Marvel Studios much-anticipated reboot of the Blade movie. The Pakistani-American filmmaker, who joined the Blade team last year, will still be attached as an executive producer on the project. Tariq stated, "It's been an honour working with the wonderful folks at Marvel. We were able to put together a killer cast and crew. Eager to see where the next director takes the film. For me to just be with them in this room and listen and learn as I build this out, it's really an honour."
Marvel Studios also released a statement saying, "Due to continued shifts in our production schedule, Bassam is no longer moving forward as director of Blade but will remain an executive producer on the film. "We appreciate Bassam's talent and all the work he's done getting Blade to where it is."
Blade will follow the iconic comic book vampire slayer who is half-mortal and half-immortal. He is trying 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. The reboot is set to star Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali in the eponymous role alongside actors and has been planned to hit the screens on November of next year.
It is currently unclear how a major loss like this will impact filming since no new director has been roped in by Marvel to helm the movie as of now. Stacy Osei-Kuffour has penned the script with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige producing.
