New Disney+ Halloween Special in the Works!
Marvel Studios will produced a Disney+ Halloween special revolving around Werewolf by Night!
Details Have Yet to Be Announced
Marvel has not revealed which version of the main character it will feature in the special. We do know a casting call has gone out for a Latino male in his 30’s. We also know production is expected to begin in early 2022.
Marvel
About the Comic Series
The very first Werewolf by Night comic was introduced in 1972. Created by Gerry Conway and Mike Ploog, it originated with an idea from Roy Thomas. Stan Lee endorsed the comic and Roy and Jean Thomas worked on developing a plot for the first issue. Therefore, Werewolf By Night – a.k.a. Jack Russell – is a rare super hero created by five different individuals.
Russell made his debut in a 1972 issue of “Marvel Spotlight.” He went on to star in a “Werewolf by Night” series that continued for 43 issues, ending in 1977.
Marvel
As the story goes, Jack Russell comes from a long history of ancestors cursed by lycanthropy (a monster able to change appearance from human to wolf and back again). Unlike other fictional werewolves, Russell is fully aware of his transformations. He uses his unique ability to control his werewolf body in order to fight villains.
While the original Jack Russell was Caucasian, a new incarnation of Werewolf by Night (volume 3, issue #1) debuted in 2020. Created by Taboo, Benjamin Jackendoff and Scot Eaton, this comic featured a main character of Hopi descent named Jake Gomez. Gomez, who also suffers lycanthropy, fights a nefarious pharmaceutical company which is guilty of exploiting members of his tribe.
Marvel
Marvel’s casting description is unique, as it doesn’t appear to fit either comic book character. This probably means that Marvel is looking to change the character’s ethnicity.
Perhaps they are doing so to link Jack Russell to Moon Knight in the MCU for the upcoming series starring Oscar Isaac? We know the two have a strong connection in the comics, as Moon Knight first appeared in the Werewolf by Night series.
Marvel
MCU Continues to Evolve
As the MCU has expanded to Disney+, we have seen the introduction of interesting plot lines and bizarre characters. WandaVision introduced witches to MCU… as well as featured the Darkhold.
Interestingly enough, the Darkhold turned Jack Russell into a lycanthrope for the first time.
Photo: Marvel Studios
Loki confirmed the existence of vampires (in advance of the upcoming Blade film). Furthermore, it has been rumored that Egyptian curses and mummies will play a role in Moon Knight. Finally, an upcoming episode of What If…? will feature zombies.
Hang on to your hats, true believers… things are about to get weird!
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