Next month, Moon Knight will swoop into homes everywhere on Disney+. The series follows Oscar Isaac’s Marc Spector, a mercenary who becomes Moon Knight, the conduit for the Egyptian moon god Khonshu. A globe-trotting adventure, the series promises to bring the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a grittier, scarier place. In a new interview, Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead, the show’s directors, talked about the tone of Moon Knight and how their experiences as independent film directors made them well-prepared for the series.
Directors Say Series Shares Similarities to Independent Films
Speaking with reporters from The Playlist, Benson and Moorehead compared Moon Knight to two of their previous projects, namely Archive 81 and Something in the Dirt. Like Moon Knight, the two said that both projects followed a supernatural horror theme. While Moon Knight is a much bigger production than any independent film, Benson says that the overall process is the same in that it is essentially telling a story with a cast in front of a camera.
The two say that the series has an overall feeling similar to Archive 81, which follows a group of people being tormented by a demonic entity in a time-bending reality. Moorehead adds that fans will see comparable themes in Moon Knight through Isaac’s portrayal of the deeply disturbed Spector. As fans of the comics know, Spector suffers from dissociative identity disorder and has three personas: the mercenary Spector, the hero Moon Knight, and an un-assuming cab driver named Steven Grant. The character’s attempts to balance these personas is a major focus of the comic book series.
Fans Question Rise of Horror in MCU Following Moon Knight
Benson and Moorehead’s comments have led to major discussions among fans of the MCU for what Moon Knight will mean for the horror genre in the MCU. Specifically, fans theorize that Moon Knight could herald the first appearance of the Midnight Sons team in the MCU. The Midnight Sons are a group of Marvel superheroes dedicated to stopping paranormal threats. In addition to Moon Knight, the team also includes Doctor Strange, Punisher, Blade, and Ghost Rider. As actor Mahershala Ali was recently cast as Blade and the upcoming film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will reportedly feature many horror aspects, fans are hopeful for a darker, grittier turn for the MCU in the future. Others also point to the inclusion of dark magic on WandaVision as evidence that the franchise will branch out and begin diving into the horror genre.
Moon Knight is set to premiere on March 30.
