In 2020, BloodsH๏τ almost had the solution to superhero fatigue. Directed by David S. F. Wilson, BloodsH๏τ follows Ray Garrison (Diesel), a soldier killed in action and revived with advanced nanotechnology, granting him abilities. However, Ray discovers his memories have been secretly manipulated, and he’s just a pawn. The film was the proposed start to a Vin Diesel movie franchise.

Vin Diesel’s BloodsH๏τ casting certainly made sense for a potential franchise. The actor has appeared in big movie franchises before, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and has also proven himself in leading roles – like in the movies that defined Vin Diesel’s career: Fast and Furious. Yet, unfortunately,’s BloodsH๏τ was doomed from the start, and a franchise never happened.

Vin Diesel’s Failed BloodsH๏τ Franchise Offered Something Different To Marvel & DC

BloodsH๏τ Has Been Compared To Things Like Invincible

Interestingly, BloodsH๏τ is actually based on the comic book superhero character from Valiant Comics, who debuted in 1992. Furthermore, the 2020 movie was supposed to be a part of a larger franchise – the Valiant Comic shared universe – with BloodsH๏τ marking the first installment. However, Vin Diesel’s BloodsH๏τ had a less-than-stellar box office result, which disrupted future franchise plans.

BloodsH๏τ’s box office failure was disappointing as the franchise would have offered something different to the two other big superhero franchises, Marvel and DC. The BloodsH๏τ comic stories tend to be smaller-scale, but also darker, grittier, and more militaristic or sci-fi oriented than those of Marvel and DC, often reflecting themes of government conspiracy, mind control, and idenтιтy struggles.

In fact, Vin Diesel’s BloodsH๏τ could’ve been another Invincible or The Boys, which take an almost anti-superhero stance. Instead of leaning into the classic stereotypical values of a superhero movie, BloodsH๏τ explores the darker side to receiving powers, especially when an exploitative organization is involved. As a result, BloodsH๏τ’s movie franchise could’ve easily offered the solution to superhero fatigue.

Why Vin Diesel’s BloodsH๏τ Was Doomed From The Start

BloodsH๏τ Faced Stiff Compeтιтion At The Wrong Time

Unfortunately, BloodsH๏τ was doomed from the start, and a franchise was never fully realized. According to figures by Box Office Mojo, the Vin Diesel movie earned just $37.3 million on a $45 million production budget, making it a complete and utter financial failure. However, this was not entirely due to BloodsH๏τ’s quality, but rather, due to bad timing.

Released just one year after Avengers: Endgame, the final divisive conclusion to a story encompᴀssing 22 movies, BloodsH๏τ felt slightly underwhelming. Considering the Marvel Cinematic Universe had just defeated god-like aliens with complex time travel, BloodsH๏τ’s somewhat down-to-earth story doesn’t really compare. As a result, BloodsH๏τ scored a rather low 38% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes, making it a critical failure.

That being said, BloodsH๏τ scored a 78% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes, which leads to the question of why its box office was so low. Unfortunately, BloodsH๏τ was released during the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant theaters were shut. Therefore, BloodsH๏τ’s failure was not entirely deserved, and if the pandemic movie was rereleased, Vin Diesel’s franchise might just see a resurgence.

Sources: Box Office Mojo