The director of Marvel Studios' live-action adaptation of Moon Knight has opened up about what fans can expect from this highly anticipated Oscar Isaac series. Moon Knight is a comic book superhero who is also a "street-level" fighter, in other words, one who fights in a similar range of heroes such as Daredevil, The Punisher, or Luke Cage.
Moon Knight is an iconic character in the Marvel comics with a strong niche following. Often dubbed as "Marvel's version of Batman," Moon Knight is a crime-fighting vigilante who also has an immense amount of financial wealth, though he didn't have to be traumatized by gunpoint as a kid to become a superhero. Moon Knight, also known as Marc Spector, was a former mercenary who was betrayed during his last contract mission. Following his 'death,' he encountered the Egyptian moon god Khons (often spelled as Khonsu or Chons) and made a deal to become their avatar on Earth in order to get a second chance to come back to life.
Director and writer Mohamed Diab promises fans plenty of action in the Marvel Studios series (which is on-brand since Moon Knight is one of Marvel's best hand-to-hand fighters) as well as the usual MCU brand of humor. However, with this particular hero, Diab will be delving into subject matter that will be considered heavy. "My movies are hard, serious, and about big topics, and I feel strongly that Moon Knight is going to be like that — it’s going to be entertainment but also heavy,” Diab said to The Hollywood Reporter. “At the same time, we’re being so creative with the jokes and with the action. As I keep saying to my wife: I can’t believe I’m funny in another language!"
Diab is known for delivering films that resonate with the audience, provoke thought, and cause introspective conversations. His 2010 film Cairo 678 follows three women as they search for justice from the daily plight of sexual harassment in Egypt. He also has a 2016 film titled Clash, which takes place entirely in a tight police truck with detainees from different political and social backgrounds. These individuals are brought together during the turmoil that happened after the ousting of former president Morsi. It's safe to say with Diab as director and Isaac starring as the lead, fans are in for a treat when Moon Knight premieres.
Diab is an Egyptian filmmaker, so he is a great choice for the Marvel Studios series considering Moon Knight's backstory and themes deal with him encountering an Egyptian god. The show will reportedly have six forty-to-fifty-minute-long episodes that continue Marvel Studios' ongoing fourth phase of its ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Many are expecting Moon Knight to segway the story into the darker side of the MCU, which includes the heroes that aren't afraid to kill or get their hands dirty. Maybe this will be Marvel Studios' way of bringing the Punisher back into the mix or even introducing Blade into the MCU timeline. Only time will tell.
Marvel Studios' Moon Knight is expected to be released on Disney Plus in 2022.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter