Marvel's 'Moon Knight': Everything you need to know about the Disney+ series starring Oscar Isaac

Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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Fighting evil by moonlight, solving riddles about himself by daylight: He's the one named "Moon Knight."

The latest TV series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is now streaming on Disney+, with episodes releasing weekly. The show is the sixth Marvel Studios series for the streaming service and was created by Jeremy Slater ("Umbrella Academy"), starring Oscar Isaac.

But what can MCU fans expect from the show? Why does Isaac's accent keep changing in the trailer? Here's everything you need to know about the series. (We promise, no spoilers.)

Who is Moon Knight?

Moon Knight is one of the identities of Marc Spector, who has dissociative identity disorder and has been losing control of his body. Moon Knight and his many personas (and accents) are played by Isaac ("Dune," "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"). Among his other personas is bumbling but sweet Steven Grant, a British museum gift-shop worker, who becomes aware of the other identities and struggles to regain some stability.

Oscar Isaac says his Moon Knight costume has armor as well as "these Egyptian mummy wrappings."
Oscar Isaac says his Moon Knight costume has armor as well as "these Egyptian mummy wrappings."

Spector is an American mercenary who was given superpowers after his life was saved by an Egyptian god. But those powers come at a price.

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The character of Moon Knight has never appeared in a Marvel movie or TV series, but was introduced in Marvel Comics' "Werewolf by Night" Nos. 32-33 in 1975 and garnered his first solo comic in 1980.

How many episodes of 'Moon Knight' are there?

"Moon Knight" will run for six episodes, and is billed as a limited series, so additional seasons are unlikely.

More: Marvel's 'Moon Knight' has a trailer and a release date—here's how to watch

When and where does 'Moon Knight' take place?

"Moon Knight" leaves the American settings of other MCU projects for London.

Passports or other items in the background of scenes in early episodes refer to events in between 2020 and 2024, but there are no mentions of Thanos' snap or the Blip, when everyone returned after the events of 2019's "Avengers: Endgame."

Who else is on the show?

Spector, Moon Knight and Grant, all played by Isaac, are joined by Ethan Hawke as antagonist Arthur Harrow, Egyptian-Palestinian actor May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly, an archaeologist and adventurer from Spector's past, and F. Murray Abraham providing the smooth, booming voice of the Egyptian god Khonshu, for whom Spector is an avatar.

Ethan Hawke (left, with Oscar Isaac) stars as the antagonistic zealot Arthur Harrow in "Moon Knight."
Ethan Hawke (left, with Oscar Isaac) stars as the antagonistic zealot Arthur Harrow in "Moon Knight."

Gaspard Ulliel's last role

Gaspard Ulliel, who died at age 37 in January following a ski accident in France, appears in "Moon Knight" as Anton Mogart. The French actor was known for playing a young Hannibal Lecter in "Hannibal Rising" and Yves Saint Laurent in 2014's "Saint Laurent."

What do you need to watch first?

You can go into this new series without watching any previous MCU movies or shows as, at least a few episodes in, there are no connections to previous storylines. But as Marvel Studios' MCU Phase Four continues to take shape, it might be worth checking out "Eternals," "Loki" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home," if you haven't already.

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What else do you need to know?

Nothing essential, but it might be helpful – or at least enlightening – to brush up on the names and lore of ancient Egyptian deities, who are mentioned often throughout the episodes.

The Great Ennead is a group of nine gods in Egyptian mythology: Atum or Re-Atum (a solar deity), Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys. There also is Horus, god of the sky, and Hathor, a goddess of love and music.

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What comes next?

Up next for Marvel Studios: "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is set to be released in theaters May 6, and the new Disney+ series "Ms. Marvel" premieres June 8 just before "Thor: Love and Thunder" hits cinemas July 8.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Moon Knight': Gaspard Ulliel, Oscar Isaac, more on Disney+ series