Variety is reporting that Mozart in the Jungle actor Gael Garcia Bernal will star in a Marvel Studios’ 2022 Halloween special for Disney+. Details about the project are scarce. The word on the street is Marvel is developing the special around their classic horror character, Werewolf by Night.
There have been two characters who use the name. The original, Jack Russell, created by Roy and Jeanie Thomas, Jerry Conway, and Mike Ploog, first appeared in the 1970s. The second, Jake Gomez, debuted last year in a series by Taboo (of the Black-Eyed Peas fame.) and artists Benjamin Jackendoff and Scot Eaton. It is thought that Marvel will be adapting the Jake Gomez version for the special. Production begins early next year.
If you are not familiar with Werewolf by Night, you would not be alone. With roots reaching back to Marvel Comics’ precursor ATLAS in the 1950s, Werewolf by Night really made his debut in 1972. The first Werewolf, Jack Russell, first appeared in Marvel Spotlight #2. Shortly after he got his own series which ran for 43 issues over 6 years. The series is notable for the first appearance of Mark Spector, a/k/a Moon Knight.
Already in production, a Moon Knight series starring Oscar Isaac heads to Disney+ sometime next year. The Moon Knight series also stars Ethan Hawke as a yet unnamed villain. It is possible that it could be the Jack Russell version of Werewolf by Night. Even if he isn’t, that doesn’t mean Werewolf by Night won’t be in the Moon Knight series. The shared history of the characters makes Moon Knight a great place to introduce one of Marvel’s classic horror characters. It is also possible that this as yet unnamed 2022 Halloween special could tie directly into the Moon Knight series
At this point, it is all speculation. Marvel has a lot going on. This special could be them toeing the horror waters so to speak. While Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness promises to bring the darker side of Marvel’s comic history, Werewolf by Night could introduce some of the weirder characters they have like Man-Thing.
