Marvel Studios' slate of Phase 4 projects includes multiple original shows for Disney Plus, including a series centered on the cloaked crime-fighting hero Moon Knight. Now, Ramy star May Calamawy has joined the cast of the series opposite lead actor Oscar Isaac.
Kevin Feige first announced a Moon Knight series would be part of Marvel Studios' Phase 4 line-up during the company's D23 presentation in 2019. Over a year later, reports indicated Oscar Isaac, who previously worked with Disney as a cast member of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, was in negotiations to portray Moon Knight, though his casting would only be seemingly confirmed by series cinematographer Gregory Middleton in early 2021.
The Hollywood Reporter has learned Calamawy joins the cast of Moon Knight in an undisclosed but key role. Marvel Studios is reportedly aiming to begin filming the series in Budapest in March 2021. The roster of directors for Moon Knight includes Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead along with Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Diab, with Umbrella Academy's Jeremy Slater on board as the show's head writer. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed Moon Knight will appear in a feature film following the character's introduction to the MCU on Disney Plus.
Introduced in the pages of Marvel Comics' Werewolf by Night in 1975, Moon Knight is the alter-ego of a former Marine and CIA operative turned mercenary named Marc Spector. The son of a Jewish-American rabbi, the morally ambiguous Spector eventually came into the employment of a terrorist Raoul Bushman. Upon discovering an archeological dig Bishman intended to raid for profit, Spector was betrayed by his employer and left for dead in the Egyptian desert, where he would be bestowed with superhuman abilities by the Egyptian god Khonshu in exchange for serving as the deity's vessel. With his newfound powers, Spector begins a career as a vigilante while struggling with multiple personalities.
Moon Knight is one of a handful of characters who will be introduced to the Marvel Cinematic through a Disney Plus. Among the first is Kamala Khan, a.k.a Ms. Marvel, who will be portrayed by Iman Vellani.
Marvel Studios' Disney Plus shows are expected to play an integral part in the company's Phase 4 storyline, which launches with the January 15 premiere of WandaVision. The series, starring Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany as Vision, will set up the events of multiple MCU films, including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Tom Holland's Spider-Man 3.
Moon Knight is expected to premiere exclusively on Disney Plus in 2022.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter