Marvel’s journey to get Blade back up and running hasn’t been the easiest, almost like ice skating uphill. Announced back in 2019 at its Comic-Con panel where Oscar winner Mahershala Ali was revealed to be the new swordbearer, the film has hit a series of setbacks from production halted due to COVID, gaining and losing its director after just over a year, but it looks like things are back on track with a new director officially on board.

Deadline is reporting that Lovecraft Country and White Boy Rick director Yann Demange will pick up the progress as Blade’s new director. Demange’s big break came on the prison drama ’71 starring Jack O’Connell and Ben Mendelsohn. He will soon direct and executive produce a Scanners series for HBO and the film Dammi.

After not rushing into finding a new director after Tariq left, Marvel could hone in on the writer and director who could deliver the tone they wanted for the film. With the critical success of the Disney+ special Werewolf By Night, Marvel could be looking to go with a darker tone on this film than other MCU projects have been in the past.

Along with Demange, Michael Starrbury was brought on to write a new script and start from scratch. Starbury has been in-demand following his Emmy-nominated work on the critically acclaimed limited series When They See Us starring John Leguizamo and Niecey Nash.

Marvel’s Blade is now aiming for a September 6, 2024 release, and production now scheduled to start next year in Atlanta.