Marc Spector (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Marc Spector | |
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Marvel Cinematic Universe character | |
First appearance |
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Based on | |
Adapted by | Jeremy Slater |
Portrayed by |
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In-universe information | |
Full name |
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Title |
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Occupation | |
Affiliation |
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Weapon | Crescent darts |
Family |
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Spouse | Chicago, Illinois |
Nationality |
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Marc Spector and Steven Grant are
A third alter, Jake Lockley, secretly exists separately from both Spector and Grant. Driving a limousine and speaking Spanish, Lockley works with Khonshu in executing Harrow (along with Ammit) after the god removes Spector and Grant from his service.
As of 2022[update], the character has appeared in the Disney+ series Moon Knight (2022). Following his introduction in the Disney+ series, Moon Knight will appear in future MCU films.
Fictional character biography
Early life
Marc Spector was born on March 9, 1987, in
In adulthood, Spector joined the
As Moon Knight, Spector dutifully served Khonshu and killed many criminals and evil doers under his name. Remorseful over El-Faouly's murder, Spector met his daughter
Spector survived the cataclysmic events of the Blip incurred by the alien warlord Thanos in early 2018,[2] and had issued a new passport that December.[3] By 2025, at Wendy's shiva, Spector was unable to bring himself to enter his old home to attend, despite his father's urging. Out of grief and trauma, Spector allowed Grant to assume general dominance over his body, who continued to remain unaware of his status as an alter to his host.[1]
Stopping Arthur Harrow
Steven Grant meets his other self
Two months later, Grant had relocated to London, England and began working as a gift shop assistant at the British Museum. However, Grant is still susceptible to "blackouts", during which Spector reassumes control while Grant remains suppressed in his psyche. One night, Grant attempts to keep himself awake, only to accidentally fall into deep slumber and wake up at a village near the Austrian Alps, now possessing an ancient scarab. He is promptly pursued by enemy forces, retreating deeper into the town where he meets religious zealot Arthur Harrow, who demands the scarab from Grant. Grant escapes in a cupcake truck while being pursued by Harrow's enforcers; he is unexpectedly saved by a mysterious, disembodied voice communicating to him. Grant eventually wakes up during the ordeal to find himself back in his flat. Although initially relieved, he soon comes to the realization that two days had passed since he "blacked out" upon noticing several oddities around his residence and being scolded by his mis-scheduled date. Returning home that night from work, he notices a storage facility key and a cell phone hidden in his flat, and calls Layla, who berates him for ignoring her calls over the course of several months. The following day, Grant is confronted by Harrow during his shift, with several witnesses and security personnel at the museum revealing themselves to Steven as Harrow's followers, and that they all serve under the Egyptian demoness
Reconnecting with Layla El-Faouly
The following day, Grant returns to the museum, only to be sacked following a review of the security footage from the previous night's attack, which does not show the monster or Moon Knight and only Grant "trespassing" after hours. He then heads to a storage facility and uses the key that he found in his flat where he discovers Spector's belongings, including the scarab he escaped with hidden inside a duffel bag. Just then, Spector himself "appears" in a reflection before Grant, revealing himself as Khonshu's Avatar. Frightened, Grant flees the facility after encountering Khonshu, only to be met by Layla El-Faouly, who introduces herself as Spector's wife. The two of them go to Grant's flat where he is apprehended for stealing the scarab by Police Constables Billy and Bobbi, who are secretly followers of Ammit serving as Harrow's disciples. Harrow brings him to their cult's hideout and demands the scarab from Grant, which Layla shows up with. Aggravated, Harrow summons another jackal monster to go after them. Just as it pushes Grant off of the rooftop of the hideout, he summons his own suit, much to Spector's bewilderment. The jackal successfully overpowers Grant, tiring him physically, and causing him to reluctantly converse with and relinquish control to Spector, who dons the Moon Knight armor and kills the beast. However, Khonshu soon berates Spector for losing the scarab to Harrow amidst the encounter, and threatens Spector with the prospect of claiming Layla as his new avatar, before sending him to Egypt.[5]
Locating Ammit's tomb
In Cairo, Spector attempts to track down a lead to Harrow's current whereabouts to no avail, while he and Grant continue to experience unusual momentary blackout episodes during which a third alter whose existence is unknown to Spector and Grant, Jake Lockley, takes over their body. After losing one of Ammit's worshippers to suicide, Khonshu causes a solar eclipse, intended to call for a council hearing of the Ennead and their respective avatars. Spector is summoned to the Great Pyramid of Giza, where Khonshu projects his accusation of Harrow for attempting to seek out Ammit's tomb and resurrecting the demoness, to which the accused falsely denies when summoned.[6]
Spector and Layla pay a visit to
Finding Ammit's ushabti
After escaping Harrow's men, Grant and Layla use the map to find the tomb. They grab supplies from Harrow's empty camp and find an alternate way into the tomb after kissing each other, upsetting Spector. They encounter mummified monsters and Grant splits off from Layla as they both try to escape. He comes across a sarcophagus and realizes that it is likely Alexander the Great's after recognizing the Macedonian language. He opens the sarcophagus and reaches down the mummy's throat where he finds Ammit's ushabti. Layla arrives and confronts Spector over what happened to her father. Harrow and his followers arrive and after Spector quickly kills a few of them, Harrow shoots Spector twice in the chest, killing him.[7]
The Duat and psychiatric hospital
Spector wakes up in a psychiatric hospital, populated by people in his and Grant's lives. Spector then finds himself in an office, where Harrow appears as a psychiatrist seemingly helping him. Spector escapes and finds a room containing two sarcophaguses, one containing Grant in a separate body. Spector and Grant embrace, leave the second sarcophagus–which contains Lockley–and are greeted by a hippopotamus-headed woman, who causes Spector and Grant to scream.[7] After this, Spector begins to switch between two different realities: encountering the woman with Grant, and in the office with "Dr. Harrow".[1]
In the first reality, Grant identifies the woman as goddess
In the second reality, Spector appears in "Dr. Harrow"'s office, who tries to get Spector to calm down by saying he did not shoot him and that his mind is "violently vacillating" between the realities. Harrow tells him that he has made a reassuring fantasy that he is a superhero, but is repeatedly told that he is not a doctor. Harrow recaps how Spector said he arrived to the office, specifically that he had an encounter with a talking hippopotamus, asking him if he thinks that is sense or nonsense, which Spector answers him as nonsense. Harrow asks him to continue talking about the little boy that he was talking about before his screaming, but Spector grabs the paperweight from Harrow's desk, telling him he feels great now, and Harrow buzzes in the orderlies to sedate Spector. As a result, he returns to his conversation with Taweret. When Grant tells Spector that if he does not show him the memory that he is hiding, then that will keep their scale unbalanced and everyone who dies, including Layla, would be his fault. Spector begins repeatedly hitting himself in the head, saying that Grant "can not make him", which returns him to Harrow's office. Harrow tells him he is proud of him for being able to relive his traumatic memories, and asks him whether he thinks he created Grant to hide from the awful things he's done or if he thinks Grant created him to punish the world for what his mother did to him. Harrow tells him that the only way to truly know, is to open up to Grant. After Spector confronts Grant about their mom being dead, Grant's denial brings him to Harrow's office. Harrow offers to call his mom for him, but is stopped when Grant accepts his mother's death.[1]
After Grant freezes, the scales become balanced and Spector finds himself in the Field of Reeds. He decides to leave it to pursue Grant, giving a heartfelt speech to him with his heart, and freezes alongside him. The Gates open and Spector and Grant are resurrected with the help of Taweret, while Layla frees Khonshu from his ushabti; Khonshu fights the now-released Ammit.[1][8]
Battle of the Gods
Spector and Grant awaken back in their body, which causes Khonshu to sense their return and bond with them again, healing their body and restoring their powers as Moon Knight and Mr. Knight. Layla discovers they can defeat Ammit by binding her to a mortal body. As Harrow, Ammit, and their followers begin judging everyone in Cairo, Spector, Grant, Layla as Scarlet Scarab, and Khonshu arrive to engage them in battle. Spector and Grant work together in fighting Harrow as they seamlessly switch, until they are overpowered by Harrow. Harrow almost kills them, but they experience a sudden blackout and reawaken to see Harrow brutally defeated by a third identity.[8]
Spector and Layla are able to seal Ammit in Harrow's body, imprisoning her, and Khonshu urges Spector to execute Harrow and Ammit. Spector refuses and orders Khonshu to release him and Grant from being his avatar, which he does. The pair find themselves in "Dr. Harrow"'s office, where they reject the vision and choose to continue their new life together and wake up in Grant's apartment in London. Later, a crippled Harrow is delivered to a limousine before being confronted by Khonshu. Khonshu introduces Marc's other identity Jake Lockley, who then shoots Harrow.[8]
Concept and creation
Background and development
The character debuted in Werewolf by Night #32 (August 1975), written by Doug Moench with art by Don Perlin and Al Milgrom, as a mercenary hired by the Committee to capture the title character. The creative team gave Moon Knight moon-related symbols and silver weapons (a metal poisonous to a werewolf) to mark him as a suitable antagonist for the werewolf hero. The two-part story continues into #33, when Moon Knight realizes Russell is a victim rather than a monster and decides to help him. A demonic vision of Moon Knight then appeared in Werewolf by Night #37 (March 1976).
Editors
Moon Knight appeared in recurring backup stories in
Casting and appearances
In October 2020, Oscar Isaac was reported to have begun talks for the role of Marc Spector / Moon Knight and Steven Grant / Mr. Knight in the series,[12] and was reported as having been officially cast by January 2021, which Marvel Studios themselves confirmed by May of that year.[13][14] The Hollywood Reporter commentator Richard Newby spoke on Isaac's potential in the role, remarking that Isaac's recent major acting roles could draw audiences unfamiliar with the character to the series, and that his Latino ethnicity could allow an examination of faith from different perspectives, rather than having the character be depicted as a "Caucasian Jewish man" like in the comics.[15] Following his debut in the series, the character is intended to appear in future MCU films produced by Marvel Studios.[16]
Design
Moon Knight's costume consists of armor and Ancient Egyptian bandages, with hieroglyphic-like symbols on his cape,
For Mr. Knight, Kasperlik created a three-piece suit based on his design in the comics, with various homages to Khonshu in the design. She added designed sneakers to modernize the look.[19]: 12 The buttons on his waistcoat feature Khonshu's symbols.[22] She also wanted to pick a fabric that would not be flat white, would have a texture, and would not get "blown out" during nighttime filming and look like "a white marshmallow running across the screen", choosing a white-on-white textured fabric with a silver lame in it.[24] The logic behind the designs of the Moon Knight and Mr. Knight suits was inspired by who each identity was, what they love, and their imagination. With Grant "completely away from the superhero world", he summons a costume that resembles a suit as Mr. Knight.[26][27] Both the Moon Knight and Mr. Knight suits contained Khonshu's symbol.[17]
Characterization
Marc Spector / Moon Knight
As a child, Marc Spector developed
Steven Grant / Mr. Knight
Steven Grant is introduced as a shy person, letting people push him around, working in a museum gift shop, and having good Egyptian mythology knowledge. He became Spector's alter when they were kids as a result of childhood abuse by their mom, who blamed Spector for the death of his brother. He has a British accent as a result of Spector watching a film about a British archeologist named Steven Grant. As he learns more about who Spector really is, he starts to gain more confidence and becomes willing to fight while wearing his Mr. Knight suit.[28][29]
Jake Lockley
Jake Lockley is a chauffeur who assumes the role of Khonshu's avatar instead of the god seemingly relinquishing his relationship with Marc Spector and Steven Grant; Spector and Grant are unaware of Lockley's existence. He is shown to have the most violent tendencies out of any of Marc's alters, as seen when he escorts the rehabilitated Arthur Harrow to his limousine, before proceeding to gleefully execute him, pleasing Khonshu. Lockley is also fluent in Spanish, a language he uses to taunt Harrow before killing him.[30]
Speaking on the decision to fully introduce Lockley at the end of the season, head writer Jeremy Slater remarked he was aware that people familiar with the Moon Knight canon were dedicated to finding the various allusions made to his presence throughout the prior episodes, instead focusing on "everyone else who's totally unfamiliar with the character and the dynamic", while ensuring that the final reveal of the character would work as "satisfying for the newcomers to the Moon Knight story".
Prior to Lockley's full reveal in the sixth episode, his existence was teased through the placement of various easter eggs and allusions in preceding episodes. Namely, Slater cited Spector and Grant's blackouts in Cairo during the events of the third episode "The Friendly Type", as well as the shaking sarcophagus witnessed by Spector and Grant as they attempted to escape the psychiatric ward at the end of the fourth episode, "The Tomb".[31]
Weapons and equipment
Marc Spector / Moon Knight uses crescent darts that he can take from the chest area of his suit,[32] while Steven Grant / Mr. Knight uses a pair of truncheons.[33]
Reception
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2023) |
Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter described Steven as a "stuttering comedian" and Marc as "a professional with panache."[34] Matt Fowler of IGN called Isaac's performance "violent and touching" and also said that "Isaac carries the bulk of Moon Knight with a wonderful portrayal of two minds living in one body", adding "As the story progresses and responses come in, Isaac with excellent masterfully handles every acting challenge, whether it be arguing with reflection, pitting himself against a mad, roaring creature, or navigating the "organization principles" of his own mind".[35]
Accolades
Year | Work | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
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2022 | Moon Knight | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Hero | Nominated | [36] |
Premios Juventud | Favorite Actor | Nominated | [37] | ||
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Actor in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Nominated | [38] | ||
Saturn Awards
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Best Actor in a Streaming Series
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Won | [39] | ||
People's Choice Awards | Male TV Star of 2022 | Nominated | [40] | ||
2023 | Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Actor in a Superhero Series | Nominated | [41] |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kirsch, Rebecca; Orton, Matthew (April 27, 2022). "Asylum". Moon Knight. Season 1. Episode 5. Disney+.
- ^ Russo, Anthony; Russo, Joe (directors) (April 27, 2018). Avengers: Infinity War (motion picture).
- ^ Hood, Cooper (April 6, 2022). "Moon Knight Confirms Marc Spector Survived Thanos' Snap". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ Slater, Jeremy (March 30, 2022). "The Goldfish Problem". Moon Knight. Season 1. Episode 1. Disney+.
- ^ Kastelein, Michael (April 6, 2022). "Summon the Suit". Moon Knight. Season 1. Episode 2. Disney+.
- ^ a b DeMayo, Beau; Cameron, Peter; Pirzada, Sabir (April 13, 2022). "The Friendly Type". Moon Knight. Season 1. Episode 3. Disney+.
- ^ a b Meenehan, Alex; Cameron, Peter; Pirzada, Sabir (April 20, 2022). "The Tomb". Moon Knight. Season 1. Episode 4. Disney+.
- ^ a b c Slater, Jeremy; Cameron, Peter; Pirzada, Sabir (May 4, 2022). "Gods and Monsters". Moon Knight. Season 1. Episode 6. Disney+.
- ^ Buttery, Jarrod (April 2014). "Ready for the Spotlight". Back Issue! (71). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 8.
- ^ Moench, Doug (1980). Moon Knight Vol. 1 #4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Buchanan, Bruce (August 2008). "The New Mutants: From Superhero Spin-Off to Sci-Fi/Fantasy". Back Issue! (29). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 65–66.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (October 26, 2020). "Oscar Isaac in Talks to Star in 'Moon Knight' Series at Disney Plus". Variety. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ Schaefer, Sandy (January 7, 2021). "Moon Knight Cinematographer Confirms Oscar Isaac's Role in the Disney+ Series". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ Vary, Adam B. (May 27, 2021). "Marvel Finally Confirms Oscar Isaac as 'Moon Knight' Star". Variety. Archived from the original on May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ^ Newby, Richard (October 26, 2020). "'Moon Knight,' Oscar Isaac and an Expanding Marvel Universe". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (November 10, 2019). "Marvel's Kevin Feige Breaks Silence on Scorsese Attack: "It's Unfortunate" (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (April 26, 2022). "Moon Knight Costume Designer Reveals The Brilliant Easter Eggs You Missed". Inverse. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ^ a b Dutta, Debopriyaa (April 6, 2022). "Moon Knight Writer Reveals The Inspirations For Oscar Isaac's Costume". /Film. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Moon Knight Production Brief" (PDF). Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution. March 16, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ Travis, Ben (February 12, 2022). "Marvel's Moon Knight Is 'Brutal', Says Kevin Feige: 'We're Not Pulling Back' – Exclusive Image". Empire. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ Truitt, Brian (March 10, 2022). "Oscar Isaac's 'Moon Knight' rises as a Marvel superhero with mental-health struggles". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ^ ComicBook.com. Archivedfrom the original on April 24, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
- ^ Ryan, Danielle (April 26, 2022). "Moon Knight Costume Designer Meghan Kasperlik Dishes On The Details Of The Series' Costumes [Interview]". /Film. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ^ a b Burton, Carson (May 10, 2022). "'Moon Knight's' Costume Designer Used 803 Different Pieces for the Hero's Suits". Variety. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ^ Tangcay, Jazz (June 6, 2022). "How 'Moon Knight' Costume Designer Built Hero Suits Using Jersey Knit and 3D Printing". Variety. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ Weintraub, Steve (April 5, 2022). "'Moon Knight' Director Mohamed Diab on His 200-Page Pitch, Designing the Costume, and Why He Thinks Kevin Feige Is a Genius". Collider. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ Brown, Tracy (April 6, 2022). "The mysterious Layla makes her 'Moon Knight' debut in Episode 2. Here's her backstory". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ a b Husein, Baker (January 24, 2022). "Moon Knight's Marc Spector and Alters Explained". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ Mohan, Monita (April 20, 2022). "Why Steven Grant Is the Better Choice as the Moon Knight Protagonist". Collider. Archived from the original on April 20, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 4, 2022). "Another Side Of 'Moon Knight' Rises In Marvel Show's Season One Finale". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
- Marvel.com. Archivedfrom the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
- ^ Harn, Darby (February 15, 2022). "10 Biggest Reveals of the Moon Knight Super Bowl Trailer". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- Marvel.com. Archivedfrom the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ Fienberg, Daniel (March 29, 2022). "Oscar Isaac in Disney+'s 'Moon Knight': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ^ Matt Fowler (May 6, 2022). "Moon Knight: Season 1 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (May 11, 2022). "'Spider-Man: No Way Home,' 'Euphoria' Lead MTV Movie & TV Awards 2022 Nominations (Full List)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ^ Roiz, Jessica (June 14, 2022). "J Balvin & Karol G Lead 2022 Premios Juventud Nominations: Complete List". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (August 14, 2022). "HCA TV Awards: 'Severance,' 'Ted Lasso,' 'Dopesick' Win Top Streaming Awards on Night 2". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
- Comics Beat. Archivedfrom the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ Piña, Christy (December 6, 2022). "People's Choice Awards: Doctor Strange 2, Don't Worry Darling Take Top Prizes". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (February 22, 2023). "'The Batman,' 'RRR' and 'The Boys' Lead Critics Choice Super Awards Nominees for Film and Television". Variety. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
External links
- Marc Spector on Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki, an external wiki
- Marc Spector on Marvel Database, a Marvel Comics wiki