The advent of Disney Plus has given its major live-action studios (such asMarvel Studiosand Lucasfilm) a lot of room to explore new avenues of their respective franchises and source materials. Now, Marvel Studios has set its sights on applying the same Disney Plus-original idea to holiday specials, and they’ve started with an exciting option because they are now casting for a Halloween special that will adapt a notable werewolf story from the Marvel comic pantheon known asWerewolf by Night.
In the original 1977 iteration, the main character, also known as Jack Russell, was a descendant of a group of humans known as Lycanthropes. As the story goes, he becomes capable of transforming into a wolf-like being even without a full moon, all while maintaining his human intelligence during his transformed state. The original series is notable for the first appearance of theschizophrenic anti-hero Moon Knight, who will be receiving his ownMarvel Studiosand Disney Plus series in 2022.
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Last year, Marvel released a new iteration of the story revolving around Jake Gomez, a Native-American man who, along with his family, is cursed with lycanthropy. Whether the Disney Plus special’s story is closer to the 1977 Jack Russell original or last year’s Jake Gomez reboot remains unannounced, though it is worth noting that Marvel is specifically looking to cast a Latino man in their 30s for the leading role, a decision that is sure to push forwardMarvel’s ongoing commitment to diversity. The Wrap reports that Marvel is seeking to begin the special’s production in early 2022.
Marvel Studios' adaptation ofWerewolf by Nightis not the only holiday special based on Marvel properties in production for Disney Plus. The company is still hard at work onThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which will take place in betweenThor: Love and ThunderandGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3and be released on the platform during late 2022. That holiday special was recently identified by director James Gunn ascrucial viewing forGuardians of the Galaxy fans. Other upcoming Disney Plus series from Marvel Studios includeHawkeye,Ms. Marvel,She-Hulk, andSecret Invasion, as well as additional seasons ofLokiandWhat If…?.
Wandavision,Loki,The Mandalorian, and others are all imaginative, creative, and well-respected offshoots of their franchises that may not have existed without the platform. However, aWerewolf by Nightspecial would stand out even within the already bizarre world of the MCU.
There is a definite air of mystery surroundingthisWerewolf by Nightproject, including questions about which storyline the show will lean toward and how it will fit into the larger scope of the MCU as a Halloween special. But with a werewolf-centric story and a Latino protagonist, it is no secret that this Halloween special has the potential to provide something MCU fans have not seen before.
