Blade Update Makes Eternals" Black Knight Tease More Disappointing

:0:1

Eternals' Black Knight tease has become even more disappointing thanks to the latest Blade update. Marvel Studios delivered a surprise in Eternals' post-credits scene when Mahershala Ali's Blade was heard speaking to Kit Harington's Dane Whitman. The scene appeared to be a sign that Dane would make an appearance in Blade. This team-up opportunity immediately caught the attention of fans, especially as it signaled a chance for Dane to actually wield the Ebony Blade and take on the Black Knight mantle after failing to do so in Eternals' post-credits scene.
The assumption that Black Knight would be in Blade has become a bigger question mark around the film as time has progressed. Marvel Studios never confirmed plans to have Kit Harington return to the MCU for the Phase 5 film, which created doubt about the possibility. Furthermore, rumors have swirled that the vampire-centric film will be an MCU prequel and take place in the 1920s. That places the story decades before Dane Whitman is born. It has become increasingly difficult to find evidence that Black Knight will return in Blade to payoff Eternals' tease, which makes the most recent update even more disappointing.
Blade Changes Reportedly Included Cutting Black Knight From Script

The latest Blade updates suggest that Black Knight's role has been cut. The news comes after Marvel Studios has spent a lot of time reworking the film that included bringing on a new director. The turnover in the director's chair and in regard to who is writing the movie, along with Mahershala Ali's expectations, appears to have brought massive changes to Blade compared to what the original plan looked like. Removing major MCU connections may have been part of the focus. If Black Knight was cut from Blade per the reports, it suggests just how heavily Marvel is changing the movie in an attempt to get the film right.
Marvel's changes to Blade are constant, as True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto is the latest writer to take over scripting duties. As the fourth writer confirmed to have worked on the project since it was announced, it is clear that Blade's story has needed fine-tuning. Cutting whatever role Black Knight was meant to have seems like a move done to make sure that the solo film keeps the focus on Mahershala Ali's character's journey. It could ultimately be the right move, but Black Knight being cut from Blade still is disappointing after Eternals teased this possibility, especially since Dane's future is otherwise unclear.
Blade Leaving Black Knight Out Means A Bigger Team-Up Must Happen

Marvel's decision to cut Black Knight's Blade role does mean that the studio needs to work to make a bigger team-up featuring the characters happen. This could be accomplished by looking at the comics and bringing the MI13 organization to the MCU. The UK based organization was created to handle supernatural threats in Britain. Both Black Knight and Blade have been members of MI13 in the comics, and they even have a history of working together to stop major threats. If they are not meant to interact in Blade, seeing the two characters fighting side-by-side as part of MI13 would help deliver on the promise of Eternals' post-credits.
There is also the option for Marvel Studios to make Black Knight and Blade members of the Midnight Sons. Dane is not typically associated with the supernatural Avengers team in the comics, but Eric Brooks is. However, Marvel Studios has teased that the Ebony Blade has vampiric connections, meaning Dane's adventures as Black Knight could skew very mystical. Considering the potentially prominent role Blade could play within the Midnight Sons, Blade could still set up the team, even if Black Knight does not appear.
Key Release Dates