How Moon Knight Is Already Setting Up The Avengers' Darker Replacement

2022's Moon Knight is shaping up to be one of the darkest entries in the MCU so far, and it could pave the way for a darker version of the Avengers, the Midnight Sons, to make their MCU debut. Marvel Studios showed off never before seen Moon Knight footage on Disney+ Day, and fans of the character immediately noticed that the brutality and violence have not been dialed back to please Disney. Moon Knight's violence in the source material blurs the line between hero and villain; and that, coupled with the psychological thriller themes in play due to Marc Spector's Dissociative Identity Disorder, makes Moon Knight the darkest character to join the MCU to date.

In the comics, Moon Knight is one of the most popular members of the Midnight Sons, a division of the Avengers that specifically deals with threats that are dark and mystical in origin. The team is usually led by none other than Doctor Strange, with Wong, Blade, Punisher, Iron Fist, Man-Thing, and multiple Ghost Riders serving as some of the additional members. While the vast majority of these characters are yet to be introduced to the MCU, Marvel studios seem to be slowly laying the groundwork for this team, and the Moon Knight series might be the project that capitalizes on this build-up.

So far, the MCU Disney+ shows have all been utilized to kickstart certain storylines for different characters, and Moon Knight can follow suit by having the show lead into a Midnight Sons project. The absence of the Avengers' biggest players following Avengers: Endgame has been very conspicuous throughout Phase 4, and Kevin Feige and co. might have already decided to shift gears and focus on another team for the near future. With the multiverse wide open and the never-ending rumors of notable members of the Midnight Sons joining the MCU, it is looking increasingly likely that this darker branch of the Avengers will soon take center stage.

Rumors suggest that Moon Knight's main antagonist could be none other than Dracula, Played by Ethan Hawke, which raises the question of whether Marvel's most popular vampire hunter is playing a role in the series. Blade has already made his MCU debut in Eternals, with a voice cameo from Mahershala Ali warning Dane Whitman about the dangers of the Ebony Blade during the film's post-credits scene. Both Blade and the Black Knight could appear in the series, perhaps forming an early version of the Midnight Sons team that will grow with future projects.

Phase 4 of the MCU seems to be leaning heavily on the concept of the multiverse; Loki explored the concept of multiple timelines within the same universe, while Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness promise to delve deep into parallel universes and alternate dimensions. This leaves the door open for Midnight Sons members that have received live-action treatment by parties other than Marvel Studios to join the team, such as Jon Bernthal's The Punisher, Jared Leto's Morbius, and even Charlie Cox's Daredevil. Moreover, rumors have been circulating regarding Ghost Rider's MCU introduction; it is widely believed that Johnny Blaze will make his debut in Multiverse Of Madness, raising the count of potential Midnight Sons candidates in the MCU. Doctor Strange, Moon Knight, Blade, Wong, and the Black Knight could form the basis of the MCU's Midnight Sons, with the Scarlet Witch, Punisher, Ghost Rider, Daredevil, and potentially Morbius rounding out the roster.

The demand for the Midnight Sons in the MCU has been steadily rising among fans for years, and Moon Knight might be the project to scratch that itch. The marketing for Moon Knight has just begun, and is sure to ramp up once the new year commences; the eagerly awaited first full trailer could provide more clues about the Midnight Sons, and satisfy Marvel fans that have been yearning for the MCU to explore darker themes and genres. With more members of this dark team getting introduced in recent projects, and the promise of the multiverse leaving the door open for other members to join the MCU, Disney's biggest franchise could become home for Marvel's darkest characters.

More: Every Potential Midnight Sons Team Member Already In The MCU (& More On The Way)