Moon Knight stars Oscar Isaac and May Calamawy reveal what they'd like audiences to learn from the Disney+ series.
In a fan Q&A conducted by Marvel Entertainment, the two actors were asked what they'd like audiences to take away from the series. "I want them to have more of a curiosity about mental health, you know, and how it affects people. And also, a curiosity about Egypt," Calamawy said, who portrays Layla El-Faouly. As for Isaac, who stars in the series as Marc Spector/Steven Grant/Moon Knight, he said, "I guess I want them to just see the battle with mental health and the healing from trauma as the central emotional core of the whole thing."
Prior to its release on Disney+, Moon Knight head writer Jeremy Slater said that with the main character struggling with dissociative identity disorder (DID), the series would aim to deliver a positive message about mental health. "Whatever we're putting out there in the universe has to be ultimately good and uplifting and have a positive message about mental health," Slater said.
Moon Knight will consist of six episodes, in which Isaac will portray multiple characters. This includes mercenary Marc Spector and Moon Knight's alter-ego, as well as British gift shop employee Steven Grant and his alter-ego, Mr. Knight, a more subdued version of the hero. Along with Isaac, Moon Knight also stars Ethan Hawke as Arthur Harrow, the series' primary antagonist and villainous cult leader, who seeks to enact the "justice" of the Egyptian goddess, Ammit, upon the world.
Created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin, Moon Knight debuted in 1975's Werewolf by Night #32. In the comics, Marc Spector is a mercenary who is given a second chance when the Egyptian god Khonshu gives Marc the opportunity to redeem his violent life. Khonshu makes him the bearer of the god's powers on Earth, or "the Fist of Khonshu," instructing Marc to use his new powers to protect and avenge the innocent. Marvel Studios president and Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige described the upcoming series as "brutal," saying that it will push the boundaries for other Marvel content previously released on Disney+.
However, despite the series' brutality, producer Grant Curtis has also said that Moon Knight is ultimately a story of self-discovery. "It’s a story about identity and finding one's true self," said Curtis. "The journey that Marc Spector is on during our whole show is: Who am I? And how do I reconcile portions of my past, present and potential future that I don't necessarily agree with? Coming to terms with our baggage and learning to live with ourselves is what we all deal with on a day-to-day basis."
New episodes of Moon Knight premiere every Wednesday on Disney+.
Source: YouTube