Stephen Dorff and Stephen Norrington Working on ‘Blade’ Spinoff

Hollywood is known, and often criticized, for its seemingly endless ability to create a new, and not necessarily better, film from past successful franchises. Fans have been repeatedly let down by such sequels, prequels and spinoffs but chances are the same won’t happen with the reinvent “Blade” that director Stephen Norrington is now working on, as Comics2Film can confirm.

When “Blade” first hit the silver screen in 1998, it instantly became one of the biggest hits based on Marvel’s comics. The sequel to it also enjoyed huge success, but the franchise faded into obscurity with “Trinity” two years later. With it, also did the once-popular and promising director Norrington and one of the main stars, actor Stephen Dorff. Both are now set to make a splashing comeback with a spinoff that will pre-date “Blade,” as the aforementioned publication informs.

“Now Norrington told Comics2Film at Mania.com exclusively that he is planning a return to the ‘Blade’ franchise following his work on the new reinvention of ‘The Crow.’ His leading man of choice is Stephen Dorff, who co-starred as the megalomaniacal Deacon Frost in the film. Of course, Frost apparently died at the end of the first movie as Blade cut him down just as he was about to transform into a vampire god.” the movie-oriented e-zine says.

Word of the spinoff first broke in October last year, when Dorff himself spilled the beans on the project, saying it would be “Deacon’s story” designed as a prequel trilogy. At the same time, the actor assured fans they would not be disappointed with it as they had been with “Trinity,” describing the trilogy as very “cool.” Now, Norrington is setting the record straight: while Dorff’s description is not entirely accurate, his statement is true, in that a spinoff is in the works.

“Norrington confirmed the news although said the movie is ‘not exactly how the article describes but close.’ The director credits Dorff with coming up with the idea for the new project, which ‘has evolved into a very interesting story.’ While that evolution may have carried it away from the source material, Norrington tells us the film is definitely envisioned as part of the existing mythology. ‘The linkage to “Blade” is still big in the equation’.” Comics2Film writes after speaking with the director.

As of now, these are all the details that have been made public about the “Blade” spinoff. Since Norrington speaks of “evolution” and sticking to the existing mythology, it is believed the script for the spinoff is almost, if not entirely, completed. The rest of the cast and further details are yet to be made public, so keep an eye on this space for when this happens.