Moon Knight is set to make a very big impact on the MCU when the six part limited series makes its debut on Disney+ next month, as not only will the series deliver a dose of dark, supernatural action to the franchise but according to Kevin Feige will also put the levels of brutality to the TV-14 limit. While the MCU has had its rough moments and is littered with fight scenes, it sounds like the Moon Knight is really going to see the franchise growing up and harness some new-found freedom on Disney+.

Moon Knight is the first in a series of upcoming darker characters being introduced to the MCU in the next few years. Along with Werewolf by Night and Blade, Moon Knight has supernatural elements and is steeped in mythology that has so far only been hinted at in the Marvel franchise. Oscar Isaac leads the cast in the title role as a vigilante who suffers from a sleeping disorder, has multiple personalities and is linked to the Egyptian moon god Khonshu. The series also features Ethan Hawke as main antagonist Arthur Harrow along with Lucy Thackeray, May Calamawy and Gaspard Ulliel in one of his last roles recorded prior to his sad death in a skiing accident.

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Discussing Moon Knight in the most recent issue of Empire magazine, Kevin Feige made it clear that the ultra-violent way Moon Knight dispatches his enemies in the comics will not be watered down for his Disney+ debut. It is a sign that things are changing in the MCU, with tonal changes coming that are going to shake up the franchise. He said:

Moon Knight Will Shift What Is Possible in The MCU and Set Up Future Dark Characters

     Marvel Studios

From the moment WandaVision premiered on Disney+, it was clear that the MCU’s somewhat set cinematic story-telling style was not going to be exactly the same when it came to their TV output. Disney+ has allowed a lot of experimentation in length, format and tone, including the combination of sitcom and all-out Marvel action of Wandavision and the upcoming legal comedy of She-Hulk. With Feige’s comments, the platform is clearly allowing Marvel Studios to also fully explore the limits of brutal violence that they can depict in their stories.

There has always been a belief that when it comes to comic book movies, Marvel Studios deliver flamboyant, bright-colored action movies, with big explosions and lots of humor, while Warner Bros. DC movies have produced dark, brooding and violent films that push the boundaries of the ratings system. With Moon Knight, it sounds as though the MCU is about to approach the same territory that Batman has often walked in. With the MCU soon expected to welcome Deadpool in all his R-rated glory, it is clear that Marvel Studios is paving the way for its more adult orientated content with the likes of Moon Knight, and it will be interesting to see how the show is received when it premieres on March 30th.