Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have less than a week to wait for the premiere of Moon Knight, the next entry in Disney+’s burgeoning library of Marvel properties on the streaming service. The series features the first live action appearance of the lunar-themed hero, who is portrayed by Star Wars and Dune star Oscar Isaac. While MCU properties are famous for their cameos of other heroes and general abundance of Easter eggs for longtime fans, Grant Curtis, who serves as an executive producer on the series, says that Moon Knight will shy away from major connections to the larger MCU. Instead, the series will focus on the solo adventures of the titular hero. Following Curtis’s comments, Isaac lent his own perspective on how Moon Knight differs from other properties in the MCU.
In a press conference to promote the show, Isaac said that he felt drawn to the series to tell the story of Steven Grant, one of Moon Knight’s alter ego. Isaac felt intrigued to explore Grant’s internal struggle through the lens of the superhero genre and the series’ ever-present Egyptian iconography. Isaac says that the show’s production team fully supported his interest in exploring Grant’s struggles, making the creative process behind the scenes a challenging adventure. Looking further at the series, Isaac says that Grant is himself a foil of his other alter ego, the mercenary Marc Spector. In comparing the two personas, Isaac contends that Spector presents himself as a tortured soul and more stereotypical vigilante. In contrast, Grant takes on a bit more of a comedic personality.
When it came time to prepare for the role, Isaac said that he turned to his brother, fellow actor Michael Hernandez, for assistance. Many scenes in Moon Knight required Isaac to portray internal conversations between Grant and Spector. Isaac shot these scenes with Hernandez playing the other character. Since Hernandez is his brother, Isaac says that the familial tie was the closest thing he could get to having another version of himself. This connection further made acting the part easier for Isaac. Elaborating, Isaac says that as a performer, he is used to playing off other actors. Having his brother speak for Grant or Spector instead of shooting the scene alone thus brought a degree of spontaneity to the exchanges.
Moon Knight is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on March 30. Initial reviews call the series a fun, albeit dark, addition to the MCU.
