How Moon Knight Could Be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s First Jewish Superhero

Marvel Studios is developing a Moon Knight series based on the popular comic - and the titular character is Jewish. It’s not yet confirmed if this aspect of the character will be featured on screen, but if so, it would mean the first Jewish superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whether or not you’re a fan of Marvel films, there’s no denying the impact they can have on pop culture and representation, the most obvious example being Black Panther. However, with popular actor Oscar Isaac (Star Wars, Inside Lewyn Davis, X-Men Apocalypse) in talks to play the lead, there has been frank discussion as to whether a Jewish actor should play the role. Here’s everything we know so far. Who Is Moon Knight? Moon Knight was created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin and first appeared in the Marvel franchise in 1975 in the comic Werewolf by Night. A few years later, Moon Knight would get his first ongoing series. In the comics, Marc Spector was originally in an elite faction of the U.S. Military and then later a mercenary. After a mission in Egypt goes wrong, the moon god Khonshu saves him. However, he is then sent back, eventually with new powers and no longer simply human. Over time, Marc Spector becomes extremely wealthy and, like Batman, uses his wealth to fight crime and other supernatural threats. Moon Knight’s Jewish Background A notable aspect to Marc Spector’s character is that he was raised Jewish and his father was a rabbi. Marc Spector was entrenched with the Jewish faith growing up, but later on, his struggles with his faith are also likely a key aspect to his fractured psyche and personalities. Although he doesn’t openly proclaim his Jewish faith or heritage, many fans believe it’s an important part of his character and that showing this will help to represent different religions and cultures on screen. Even if the character’s Jewish heritage is only briefly mentioned in the series, Marvel’s viewership is the largest in the world for any franchise (Avengers: Endgame is the highest selling movie of all time at 2.798 billion USD). Should a Jewish Actor Play Moon Knight? Marvel fans have been discussing if Marvel Studios should cast a Jewish actor for the role and whether Oscar Issac is right for the part. Although Oscar Isaac isn’t Jewish, his father gave him his middle name of Isaac because of his father’s Jewish roots. With that said, many are excited for the acclaimed actor to play the part, thanks to his talent and proven success in previous big-budget projects, most famously as Poe Dameron in the latest Star Wars trilogy. When is Moon Knight Set for Release? Although big releases in cinemas seem to be in uncertain territory, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marvel has a whole suite of big-budget superhero releases planned for Disney+, including The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision and Loki. Moon Knight currently doesn’t have a release date, but it’s safe to rule out 2021. Who would you like to play Moon Knight? Or are you happy that Oscar Isaac is set to helm the role?