Rumor Has It: Moon Knight on Netflix

Image Courtesy www.netflix.com

As mentioned in the Weekly MCU Review, Rumor Has It that Marvel Netflix is considering Moon Knight for an appearance in Netflix Phase 2, a rumor which I already talked about a few weeks ago in conjunction with the rest of the rumored four-series slate (Moon Knight, The Punisher, Deathlok, and Spider-Woman). However, the latest rumor is that Moon Knight could receive the Punisher treatment: a TV series set up with an appearance in another character’s series. That’s the part I want to talk about today.

One of the definite benefits of the Marvel Netflix Universe is the ability to bring tons of characters together in interesting combinations and get to know them extremely well. It also gives the opportunity to introduce many more characters into the universe than a two-hour movie would allow. As an example, Daredevil season 1 introduced Melvin Potter, a.k.a. Gladiator, as well as comic book characters Father Lantom and Claire Temple, who can easily appear in any of the other series. Jessica Jones season 1 will introduce Patsy “Trish” Walker, a.k.a. Hellcat, and Luke Cage, as well as Jeryn Hogarth, a comic book character with connections to both Danny Rand, a.k.a. Iron Fist, and the Heroes for Hire. Additionally, Daredevil villain Nuke may also be appearing in that series. Daredevil season 2 will introduce Frank Castle, a.k.a. the Punisher, and Elektra Natchios, and those are just the characters who’ve been announced. It has already been announced that Luke Cage will introduce Misty Knight (a character with a lot of Iron Fist connections), and that’s when they’ve only just started filming. It would not surprise me in the least if by the end of the year they announce that one or both of Jessica Jones and (the not-yet-cast) Iron Fist will be appearing in Luke Cage.

Image Courtesy en.wikipedia.org

Of all the characters mentioned above, none aside from the main four (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist) have been announced to receive a Netflix series. However, rumors have been flying lately to suggest that the Punisher is receiving a backdoor pilot on Daredevil season 2 which will hopefully set him up to receive his own series after The Defenders. Could other characters be getting introduced in these Netflix series as a way to set them up for greater things in the future? It is absolutely possible.

This begs the question: If Marvel does indeed use one of the upcoming Netflix series to introduce Moon Knight and set him up for a larger role in Marvel Netflix Phase 2, which series might they use?

Considering that Jessica Jones is a private investigator who deals with superhuman cases, Jessica Jones would be the easiest option by far—although it has long since finished filming and is already scheduled for release in a little over a month on November 20. If he appears in that series, it could be as either a client or a target. If a client, then he could be one of the various superheroes who (in the comics) hire Jessica to assist them as super-powered backup while dealing with particularly vicious villains—something which Carole Danvers did on occasion. Introducing him as a target could work even better, as his first comic book appearances were as an antagonist of Jack Russell, a.k.a. Werewolf by Night. As a mercenary, Marc Spector has a history of finding himself on the wrong side of things, realizing his mistake, and working to correct it—a character trait which he shares with Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, as well as both the Punisher and Elektra (anyone else sensing a theme from these Netflix characters?). If he does appear in Jessica Jones as one of her targets, it could be some sort of misunderstanding which they eventually clear up.

Moon Knight does have some history with Luke Cage, though from what I could find it is a fairly small history: Moon Knight is part of Luke Cage’s resistance movement during the House of M storyline. This partnership could find its way into Luke Cage, but I don’t see any reason for it to at this time, though you never know where the rumored team-up between Cottonmouth and Mariah Dillard will go. If he does appear in Luke Cage, I would expect something similar to what I said about Jessica Jones, with the two of them coming to blows over a misunderstanding and eventually reconciling. Perhaps Moon Knight could try to bring Luke in for whatever it is that he’s running away from, but the two of them could then team up against Cottonmouth at the end of the series.

Image Courtesy www.screenrant.com

Daredevil season 2 is already extremely full with both Punisher and Elektra confirmed to be making their MCU debuts. However, of the upcoming series I think this is the one whose title character has the most history with Moon Knight. Early in his publication history Moon Knight teamed with Daredevil to fight a minor Daredevil villain called the Jester (who has also been mind-controlled by the Purple Man—the villain for Jessica Jones—before). In both the mainstream Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Marvel Universe Moon Knight has teamed up with Daredevil and the Punisher, including a team-up which saw them become part of an organization designed to bring down the Kingpin. And while I think that this would be an interesting way for Moon Knight to be introduced into Marvel Netflix, I also think this would be a little too much for them to do in season 2. If Daredevil season 3 goes down this route, with Daredevil and Punisher having joined forces to take down Wilson Fisk (who is revealed to have orchestrated the Castle murders), then I could see Moon Knight being introduced as a mercenary brought in by Fisk who then turns on Fisk, joins Daredevil and Punisher, and goes undercover for them within Fisk’s organization.

Without knowing anything about the Iron Fist series, I can’t really say how (if at all) Moon Knight could fit in. However, based on the sources of their respective abilities, I think this may be the best arena for Moon Knight to be introduced. Iron Fist’s abilities are a combination of martial arts training and Eastern mysticism. Moon Knight’s abilities are also a combination of martial arts (and military) training and mysticism, in this case Egyptian. Could including Moon Knight and exploring two partially-mystical characters together be the magic (pun fully intended) formula for Iron Fist?

The final confirmed series is The Defenders, which will see Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist join forces to protect Hell’s Kitchen. I think it is likely that at least some of the other heroes we will meet in the character-centric series (Punisher, Hellcat, and Misty Knight so far) will also appear into this series, and presumably we could also meet new heroes as well. Could Moon Knight factor into this series? If the villain who brings them together happens to be one of Moon Knight’s rogues (say a mad Egyptian god brought to life), he could follow him to New York and ask the Defenders for help.

These are all the confirmed series to be coming out in the next couple years. Marvel could definitely find a way to work Moon Knight into any of them as a way to set him up for his own series in Netflix Phase 2. However, I think the two most likely options are Daredevil season 3 (assuming it happens), alongside Daredevil and the Punisher, and Iron Fist.

Which of these series do you think will introduce Moon Knight? What stories do you think they should use with him? Do you want to see him receive his own series? Let me know in the comments!

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