Moon Knight is set to release in March 2022, and has a secret link to the world of Black Panther that could end up being the MCU's best Phase 4 set-up. The show will tell the story of Marc Spector, who becomes the Earthly champion for the Egyptian God of the Moon, Khonshu, earning special abilities and becoming the superhero known as Moon Knight. The show will star Oscar Isaac in the titular role, alongside Ethan Hawke as the villainous Arthur Harrow.

From the trailers released thus far, Moon Knight looks to be fairly self-enclosed within the wider framework of the MCU. With the character of Marc Spector from the comics being somewhat obscure to a more general audience, it makes sense for Moon Knight to be told in a more self-contained manner than other MCU properties. However, there is one specific thing promised to feature heavily in the series that links to the wider MCU, from the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and its spin-offs, to Thor: Love and Thunder: the Ancient Egyptian gods.

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The main way Moon Knight and its focus on Egyptian mythology will factor into the wider MCU is through the Black Panther connection of Bast. Bast is the Wakandan Goddess of the Panther, worshipped as a deity for bestowing the heart-shaped herb on the people of Wakanda while being the Black Panthers' guardian. While Wakanda is known in Marvel canon as a separate country from Egypt on the continent of Africa, the link comes through Moon Knight's own god, Khonshu. In Marvel Comics, Khonshu and Bast are half-siblings, being related through their godly heritage. Through this relation, comes the first link between Moon Knight and the wider MCU, with Bast playing a hugely important role in the first Black Panther and no doubt playing a similar role in Wakanda Forever.

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That isn't where the connections to Bast end, however, with Taika Waititi's Thor: Love and Thunder rumored to feature an appearance from the Panther Goddess herself. This rumor comes from Australian actress Akosia Sabet updating her own Showcast profile to list an appearance as Bastet, also known as Bast, in the upcoming Thor movie (as spotted by Cosmic Circus). Given that films promise to feature Gorr the God Butcher, it would make sense for known MCU deities to appear. Through the close link between Bast and Khonshu, Moon Knight could potentially do some MCU Phase 4 stage setting itself, despite it initially appearing independent of the wider MCU.

Moon Knight's location could also prove a link to the world of Black Panther. With Wakanda known to be a fictional country in Eastern Africa, and Egypt being Northeastern Africa, large portions of the show will take place on the same continent as where Black Panther, Wakanda Forever, and the upcoming spin-offs take place. Through the link of the Egyptian deities, Marc Spector could very well travel to - or simply just through - Wakanda on his journey to Africa. Also, to further support Moon Knight's Phase 4 setups, Thor: Love and Thunder is scheduled to release just 4 months after the release of Moon Knight with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever scheduled to release in November 2022, 8 months after. The close proximity of these projects' release dates certainly suggests Moon Knight will be setting up other Phase 4 projects through its exploration of the gods, given Marvel's tendency to closely tie together projects that directly impact one another, like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Moon Knight's lore and Phase 4 connections will be sure to further delight those already looking forward to the show for another batch of trademark Marvel humor, action set-pieces, and CGI-filled superhero adventures. Through the titular character's link to Ancient Egyptian mythology, the newest Disney+ adventure could go one step further and solidify itself as a major stepping stone of Phase 4 of the MCU. With both Thor: Love and Thunder and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever releasing in 2022 also, it would certainly make sense for Marvel's newest hero to secretly link to its other Phase 4 projects, through the use of the untold power and relationships of the Gods of Egypt in the MCU.

Next: How Moon Knight's Power Source Could Tie To Doctor Strange 2's Villain

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