Director Elegance Bratton discusses how he would approach Marvel’s iconic character Blade, if he were roped in to direct the film. He also explains how he feels a deep personal connection with the Marvel character.
As we know, Bassam Tariq, who was previously signed on to direct Blade left the project in September owing to scheduling conflicts. After his departure, Marvel Studios delayed the film to look for another suitable director to replace Tariq.
Recent reports suggest that Bratton could be taking over the project as the director. Meanwhile, Bratton’s first film, The Inspection, is all set to hit theaters tomorrow. The film has already earned immense critical acclaim at various film festivals.
The Inspection is a semi-autobiographical story that revolves around a young man named Ellis French and his journey in Marine Corp. boot camp. Ellis is disowned by his mother after she finds out about his sexuality.
In an exclusive interview with Screenrant, Elegance Bratton explains how he would deal with Blade if he were roped in to direct the upcoming MCU project. He further speaks about the deep, personal connection he feels with the character of Blade and what sort of humor he would incorporate into the script.
Bratton also mentions that he would love to make a “really fun action movie” with Mahershala Ali. Check out what he said below –
There have been a lot of rumors that you might be taking over the Blade movie for Marvel Studios. How would you approach the character if given a chance to do Blade and are there elements of the storytelling that you would incorporate from The Inspection into Blade?
Screen Rant
Well, I think yes for sure. I’m very much interested in a contemplative and thoughtful camera approach when it comes to filming Black actors. I think a lot of times we observe and dissect differences in cinema rather than spend time. So, I think I would want to spend that time to bring Blade into a more recognizably human place. Secondarily, Blade’s story is very much my story. This is a young Black man, abandoned by his mom and I would really want to explore that. And I guess the last thing is Blade, as a Black man, if you go to a barber shop the conspiracy theories around Whiteness, Blackness, immortality all sorts of things are kind of swirling around.
Bratton
So, in that kind of Marvel-esque humor, I would want to bring some of that barber shop humor into it because I’ve been in conversations about Blade with 5 percenters and Black Israelites, and kind of all these…I think Blade as a mythological character exists in a lot of different parts of the American consciousness that I would love to poke around in and provoke with. But ultimately, it’s an action movie. It’s fun. Vampires are sexy and fun and I want to make a really fun action film. And the fact that Mahershala is playing Blade, he’s one of the best actors on God’s green Earth, and I like working with great actors.
From Bratton’s statements, it is clear that he has a deep understanding of the character. He also understands that Blade should be approached as an action film. Blade is a Black man who loses his mother at a young age, which enables the director to connect and relate to him on a personal level.
He also reveals his plans to incorporate barbershop-style humor in the movie and dissects how Blade fits into the American consciousness as a mythical character.
Blade has already been introduced in the MCU through his voice-over in the post-credit scene of Eternals. The upcoming film has an opportunity to establish a grittier, darker tone within the universe. The character has a complicated, traumatic past. His mother was murdered while giving birth to him, which gave birth to his hatred for vampires, despite him being half-vampire himself.
Bratton’s own personal experiences enable him to understand and deal with abandonment in a sensitive manner. So, it goes without saying that he would be able to understand Blade’s character like no one else.
Although Bratton doesn’t confirm the rumors about him being on board to direct Blade, his nuanced approach towards the character makes him an ideal choice. He will be able to bring in the much-needed balance of pain, dark humor and action that the film needs. He will also treat Blade’s story as a personal one.
Bratton’s approach to Blade’s character is interesting, balanced and layered. Hopefully, Marvel Studios will consider his approach logically and make an informed decision.
About Blade Reboot
Blade is an upcoming superhero film, based on the Marvel Comics superhero of the same name. It will be an installment of Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, it was announced that Mahershala Ali would play the title character. Osei-Kuffour has been tapped to pen the film’s script.
Known as one of Marvel Comics’ darker heroes, Blade follows the story of the vampire hunter, who was born half-vampire himself.
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