Moon Knight is a Very Different & Terrifying MCU Hero, Says Oscar Isaac
Moon Knight star Oscar Isaac says the titular superhero is a different, terrifying addition to the MCU. The upcoming Disney+ series will see Isaac become the first actor to portray the character in live-action, joining an expanding roster of MCU Phase 4 heroes. Moon Knight will consist of 6 episodes, the first of which is due to premiere on March 30.
The upcoming series follows Isaac's Marc Spector, an American mercenary who has dissociative identity disorder, which has caused him to develop at least one other identity - Steven Grant, a mild-mannered British museum giftshop employee. Experiencing blackouts and memories of another life, Steven eventually becomes aware of Marc, a source of tension as they are embroiled in a mystery involving Egyptian gods and series antagonist Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke). In addition to Isaac and Hawke, the Moon Knight show cast includes May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly, Gaspard Ulliel as Anton Mogart/Midnight Man, and F. Murray Abraham as the voice of the Egyptian moon god Khonshu.
Now, at a Moon Knight press conference attended by SR, Isaac discusses how his superhero stands out from his current MCU brethren. Noting that the series is heavily immersed in Spector's point-of-view, he says experiencing the disorientation that comes with his DID can be terrifying for viewers, while also pointing out that Steven affords the opportunity for a different kind of Marvel comedy. Isaac praises the franchise for its integration of comedy and action, but says the British alter's tendency to be unconsciously funny helps him stand out from what's come before. Check out his full quote below:
Well, I think the story is so point of view. It means that you're just in the skin of this guy, and you're seeing things happen. You're experiencing it just as he's experiencing it. So there's something that's terrifying about that. I think Steven, in particular, there's a sense of humor there that is different from what we've seen. I think Marvel in particular have done such an amazing job at combining action and comedy in such a great way. And I thought with Steven, there was a chance to do a different type of comedy than we've seen of somebody that doesn't know they're funny, doesn't know they're being funny. And so that was really exciting. And then to find the counterpoint of that with Marc, in some ways leaning into a bit of the stereotype of the tortured, dark vigilante guy, but what makes him so special is that he has this little Englishman living inside of him.
The Moon Knight series trailer teases the mix of laughs and scares that Isaac describes, perhaps to an extent so far unseen in the MCU. While Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Diab helms most of the show's episodes, noted cosmic horror duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead also have some directing duties, causing many to wonder just how frightening the series could get. Based on the star's comment, it seems like Benson & Moorhead's Moon Knight episode 2 represents the greatest possibility for MCU horror, with Steven potentially still grappling with the realization that he is an alter of Marc Spector.
Additionally, the differences between the museum employee and the hardened mercenary should create plenty of opportunities for comedy, as one finds themselves in a situation better suited for the other. Archetypically, the closest comparison to this dynamic in the MCU would probably be the relationship between Hulk and Bruce Banner, which Avengers: Infinity War played for laughs by leaving the latter alone to fight some of the biggest battles in the series to-date. While it's unclear just how Isaac's character will fit in with his fellow superheroes in the aftermath of Moon Knight, it sounds like the process of figuring him out should make the Disney+ series a compelling watch.