Moon Knight Creators Hired Psychiatrist To Properly Depict Mental Health
Moon Knight centers around a character with dissociative identity disorder (DID), so to ensure an accurate depiction of the condition, show creators hired a psychiatrist to work closely with the cast and crew. DID is a defining trait of the newest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe — a crescent-wielding superhero who receives his powers from the Egyptian god, Khonshu. Aside from unraveling dark mysteries related to Egyptian deities, the Moon Knight must also grapple with various identities as museum employee Steven Grant and mercenary Marc Spector.
Mental health is a highly sensitive issue that needs to be tackled with the appropriate amount of care when depicted onscreen. If not handled properly, it could completely derail the movie or TV show, opening it up to intense backlash and criticism. Given the popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there will be many eyes on Moon Knight and how it approaches telling a story about a character with DID. It will obviously be a crucial component of the show, looking to open the MCU to greater representation. Marvel went to great lengths to ensure it was as accurate as possible.
For the development of Moon Knight, show creators hired board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Paul Puri to work with the actors and directors to ensure a proper portrayal of DID, according to a Marvel press release (hat tip The Direct). Puri, a clinical assistant professor at UCLA, is no stranger to the entertainment industry. A TV writer himself who often consults with filmmakers, Puri also frequently serves as a subject-matter expert for news media, analyzing mental health topics as they relate to characters in popular shows like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
Isaac himself has been outspoken about Moon Knight and its purposeful efforts to take mental health seriously. Working with a psychiatrist shows that the series will likely make good on that promise. The creators of Moon Knight seem to have taken on the task of producing not just a great superhero story but one that breaks the stigmas surrounding mental health.
Marvel's thoughtful approach to Moon Knight is refreshing, considering that mental conditions, particularly DID, have historically been depicted in either a villainous or humorous light. Moon Knight sets an example for Hollywood to view mental illness with a more sensitive, compassionate lens. Of course, whether or not these efforts are executed successfully is yet to be seen, though early reviews for Moon Knight seem promising. The first episode of Moon Knight drops March 30 on Disney+.
Source: The Direct