Netflix is proving to be a safe haven for Marvel when it comes to featuring street-level heroes. While the movies and network shows are tonally PG-13, the Netflix offerings allows them to move closer to R-rated territory and tell darker stories. Right now the studio only has four regular shows officially airing or set to air on the online platform, but they may be looking to add a fifth: Moon Knight.
During his recent visit to Collider Heroes, Heroic Hollywood’s Umberto Gonzalez mentioned that’s heard a rumor that Moon Knight is being developed as a Netflix series rather than a movie. Describing the hero as Marvel’s version of “Bruce Wayne,” a.k.a. Batman, the rumor mill indicates that Netflix may want to give Moon Knight a “backdoor pilot” into the Marvel Cinematic Universe once the streaming service sees how Punisher’s similar introduction in Daredevil Season 2 fares. Moon Knight is the second additional series that’s been rumored to be added to the Netflix slate, following the report three months back that Thunderbolts is also being developed.
Marvel first announced a venture with Netflix in November 2013 with Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist, leading to the four heroes teaming up in the Defenders miniseries. Since then, no other shows have been officially added to the schedule. Still, so far it appears the online gambit has payed off. Daredevil earned critical acclaim after its release in April and quickly earned a second season several weeks later. Jessica Jones Season 1 will premiere next month, and if it’s as well received as Daredevil was, no doubt it will also earn a renewal. Should Moon Knight actually get made as a TV series, it’s doubtful we would see it any time soon due to Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Defenders being next in line. It probably wouldn’t air for a long time (I'm guessing until 2018 at the earliest).
Although Moon Knight is frequently compared to Batman due to their similar crimefighting methods and shadowy looks, there are more differences than similarities between the two vigilantes. For one thing, for a while Moon Knight suffered from dissociative identity disorder, thus making him a uniquely tragic hero. Also, Moon Knight’s origin is connected to Egyptian mythology, and although for a while he had been gifted special abilities like super strength, he usually relies on his fighting skills and special gadgets to fight the bad guys. So like Daredevil, a live action Moon Knight series probably wouldn’t require a lot of visual effects, making Netflix a good home for him if Marvel chooses to take him there.
We’ll keep you updated on any news regarding Moon Knight’s potential future in the MCU, be it in a movie or TV series. In the meantime, you can watch all 13 episodes of Daredevil Season 1 right now to find out what Marvel’s Netflix programming is like, while Jessica Jones will release its episodes on November 20.
