EXCLUSIVE: Krypton alum Aaron Pierre is set to co-star opposite Mahershala in Marvel’s new Blade pic starring Ali as the iconic vampire hunter. Delroy Lindo is also on board with Bassam Tariq set to direct. It is unknown who Pierre will be playing in the film. Stacy Osei-Kuffour is on board to pen the script with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige producing.

Marvel had no comment.

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While it is unknown who Pierre will be playing, the role itself was one of the more highly coveted parts in Hollywood since Tariq was tapped as director last fall. Execs on the project always had their eye on Lindo for his secret role but insiders add Feige, Tariq and others took their time finding the right person for this part, meeting dozens of up-and-coming actors for the role with Pierre becoming the favorite in recent weeks.

Marvel Studios’ Blade will no longer have director Bassam Tariq at the helm.

Blade, which has a release date of Nov. 3, 2023, was gearing up to begin shooting in November in Atlanta. It is unclear how Tariq’s departure will impact the production start of the vampire action thriller, which has Oscar winner Mahershala Ali in the title role, with the cast also including Delroy Lindo and Old actor Aaron Pierre.

“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,” Marvel said in a statement to THR. “We appreciate Bassam’s talent and all the work he’s done getting Blade to where it is.”

Tariq thanked Marvel in his own statement: “Its been an honor 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.”

Blade has seen its start of production shift at least once before, if not twice, and sources say the project has undergone several rounds of script rewrites. Beau DeMayo, who has worked on shows such as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Witcher and its animated feature spinoff, as well as Marvel’s own Moon Knight, is the current writer. One source says the studio is already in search mode for a new director.

“Blade” has moved from Nov. 3, 2023 to Sept. 6, 2024

After parting ways with director Bassam Tariq, Marvel Studios has moved fast and found not only his replacement but a new writer as well as Sources tell Deadline Yann Demange has signed on to direct the pic with Michael Starrbury to write a new script. Mahershala Ali is starring in titular role with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige producing.

After Tariq moved on from project, Marvel decided not to rush on finding his replacement as they wanted to make sure they got the right director and writer and decided to push pause on pre-production. They would also rearrange their release schedule, with the film now bowing on Sept. 6, 2024 and production now schedule to start next year in Atlanta.

By having the extra time to meet with candidates, Marvel could now zero in on the writer and director who could deliver the tone they wanted to achieve with this film. While it probably won’t be as dark as the previous Blade pics, Insiders say Marvel is looking to go with a darker tone on this film than other MCU projects have been in the past. Following weeks of meetings and pitches, Demange would land the job after delivering a pitch that execs were excited about.

Demange big break came on the prison drama 71 starring Jack O’Connell and Ben Mendelsohn. The film earned rave reviews and put Demange on the map and ultimately landed him the directing job on the Matthew McConaughey crime drama, White Boy Rick. Demange’s other credits include Lovecraft Country and will direct and executive produce Scanners the series for HBO and the film Dammi with his production company Wayward, alongside AMI and Vixens.

As for Starrbury, the scribe has been in-demand following his Emmy nominated work on critically acclaimed limited series When They See Us. He also recently exec produced the limited series Colin in Black & White.

Demange is repped by CAA and attorneys Carlos Goodman and Sue Rodgers. Starrbury is repped by CAA and Circle of Confusion and attorney Robert Syzmanski.