Five Black Directors Who Would Absolutely Body 'Blade'

Image via Getty/Kevin Winter

Notable Projects: An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, Random Acts of Flyness

With Terence Nance out of the Space Jam 2 director's chair, this could be the perfect project to slot him into. Nance, who has received critical acclaim for his HBO series Random Acts of Flyness, has a unique style, bringing in experimental flair with socially-conscious undertones. Not saying Blade needs to be more "woke," but a black half-vampire vigilante trying to be a hero? If anyone can turn this into an epic, it could be Terence Nance. —khal

Notable Projects: Get Out, Us

I’m not one of those snobs who thinks Marvel’s stronghold on the industry is the end of cinema as we know it, but as much fun as the MCU admittedly is, I selfishly don’t want to see Peele go over to their house to play, or fuck with any established franchise, really. Peele occupies rarefied air right now, one of an insanely small number of directors who are able to fill theater seats, charm critics AND crush box offices with a movie that’s—gasp—totally original and not a spinoff or inspired by any kind of content machine IP. The only other director making original true-blue blockbusters that comes to mind off top is Christopher Nolan, and even he had to play the studio franchise game first to do so. Granted, that gave us arguably the best superhero trilogy of all time. But Peele, who paid his dues in other ways, didn’t have to go through that, so why stop his momentum now? Well, because with his signature perspective, burgeoning auteurist flair and penchant for horror (which should at least be a side ingredient in any solid Blade movie) he could deliver a modern take on Blade that would be on par with Get Out and Us. Which is to say, Oscar-worthy. —Frazier Tharpe

Notable Projects: Eve's Bayou, Talk to Me

Kasi Lemmons' career has lowkey delved into darker undertones for a while, whether its acting in classics like Candyman or making her directorial debut with Eve's Bayou. She also has Harriet (a biographical film about Harriet Tubman starring Cynthia Erivo) dropping later this year, so it'd be intriguing to see her combine all of her gifts to bring the daywalker's tale to life. We also have a feeling that Mahershala would shine in this project under her direction. —khal

Notable Projects: The Land, Creed II

Steven Caple Jr. already succeeded Ryan Coogler in the Creed franchise; why not take another cue from him and direct a black marvel hero next? The man already proved he can put together a show-stopping sequence with Creed II’s desert training montage, to say nothing of the film’s equally compelling quieter moments—some of which Caple added to the script himself. In fact, let’s get him in the chair and let him have a crack at the screenplay, then. —Frazier Tharpe

Notable Projects: 12 Years a Slave, Widows

Steve McQueen can make compelling Oscar bait in his sleep. He tried his hand at mixing his prestige sensibilities with surface blockbuster entertainment last year—and made, in our opinion, the best movie of 2018—but you all lamed out. Maybe y’all will appreciate it once the second one comes out? Marvel loves a moonshot. Tapping the guy who made Shame and 12 Years a Slave to direct a movie about a half-breed vampire hunter is the exact kind of move they’d pull. The shit that would have you double-checking you’re not reading Clickhole when the news breaks. I’m thinking about the Widows opening as I write this and now this has to happen for the sake of my own personal sanity. —Frazier Tharpe