MCU’s Blade Movie Blunder Is Actually Great For Arkane’s Game

Following a whirlwind of unfortunate news regarding the project, there are now rumors swirling that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Blade movie may be canceled. While this would obviously be disappointing news for anyone who was anticipating seeing Mahershala Ali’s Blade in his own movie, this could be a blessing in disguise for Marvel’s Blade, an upcoming action-adventure game developed by Dishonored and Deathloop’s Arkane.

For all of its fumbles, a cancellation of the MCU’s Blade movie might not be that damning for the character, as it is also rumored that he would be folded into a movie inspired by Marvel’s Midnight Sons. Either way, the less of Blade there is in the MCU could actually be a boon for Marvel’s Blade, a game that will likely shine brighter if it doesn’t have a major MCU movie to compete with for attention or iconography.

Blade is Finally Receiving His Due in Games

For Blade to finally be receiving a standalone game with an original universe/continuity is a godsend. The character has had three tie-in video game adaptations based on the Wesley Snipes movies, yet every other video game appearance he’s had has been as a playable character in a larger ensemble. Blade’s appearances in Marvel games include the following:

• Licensed movie tie-ins for Blade, Blade 2, and Blade Trinity.
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order.
• LEGO Marvel Super Heroes and LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2.
• Marvel’s Midnight Suns.

If the MCU’s Blade movie is truly canned, Arkane’s Blade will optimistically have the freedom to explore its own iteration of the character without having to worry about brand synergy. This doesn’t seem like it was ever going to be a big issue, since Marvel’s Blade’s Parisian setting and sci-fi aesthetic are sure to distinguish it, but the lack of any incentive to synchronize could only help.

However, while less of a focus on Blade in the MCU could mean that more focus is placed on Blade in Arkane’s game, it’s also possible that Marvel’s Blade was banking on the MCU to re-establish the character beforehand. That way, it could have piggybacked on its potential success in reinventing Marvel’s leather-clad dhampir.

Marvel’s Blade May Be Challenged Everywhere

Little at all is known about Arkane’s stylish, dystopian take on Blade, aside from what was revealed in Marvel’s Blade’s announcement teaser and concept art pieces. With Skydance’s Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra pushed back and supposedly in trouble, it’s probably in every fan’s best interest to have their guard up in terms of what could become of Marvel’s Blade.

The MCU’s Blade movie should hopefully not affect Marvel’s Blade whatsoever, anyway, and the latter has an opportunity to be one of the more unique Marvel superhero video games if it is anything like Arkane’s previous work.