Spike TV has ordered a 2-hour television movie/pilot based on the successful theatrical movie franchise Blade.  Blade, which is based on the Marvel Comics character, is the first scripted programming announcement made by new Spike TV President Doug Herzog.  Herzog expects to air the Blade pilot on Spike in early 2006.  David Goyer, who wrote all three of the Blade theatrical films, which have earned in excess of $400 million worldwide at the box office, will be the executive producer of the new series.

While Marvel characters such as Spider-Man and the X-Men have been far more successful in movie theaters than DC Comics superheroes, DC, thanks to Smallville, has had a decided edge when it comes to live action television.  Now as Batman Begins appears ready to reclaim a portion of the theatrical movie market for DC, perhaps Blade will give Marvel a successful beachhead in live action television.