Moon Knight Theory: Trailer Analysis

Restlessness at Knight has Dangerous Consequences

By Zan Haider

After watching that incredible, mind-boggling trailer of Marvel Studios’ Moon Knight, I was instantly intrigued as to what the story might entail. From what we’ve seen, an insomnia-ridden Steven Grant, played by Oscar Isaac, locks himself in his apartment to prevent himself from escaping… for some unknown reason. We hear a voiceover from Isaac’s Grant, saying that he’s losing his sense of reality and dreams. We see a reflection of the Moon Knight staring at Grant for a brief second, as the lights flicker. We then see Khonshu, the Moon God, horrifyingly limp towards a terrified Grant, only to find that it was a harmless old lady when the lights flicker in the elevator.

We see Ethan Hawke’s Arthur Harrow, who encourages Grant to “give in” to his darkness. Thank goodness he does, because the trailer ends with two final shots; one of mummy-wrapping appearing and covering Grant, and then we see the Moon Knight, beating what appears to be a werewolf to death, after which he faces the audience in an extremely bad-ass fashion.

The teaser did not show us what will occur in the series, or how the events will play out, but I pieced together some clues and created a rough “beat sheet,” if you will, for what the story will roughly entail.

As comic book fans, we are all aware that Marc Spector, an ex-CIA agent with multiple personality disorder, becomes chosen as Khonshu’s Fist, and becomes the Moon Knight. We also know that one of Marc’s personalities is Steven Grant, a mild-mannered civilian.

And interestingly enough, Grant receives a phone call from an unknown number, and is confused when the caller calls him, “Marc.”

So, here’s what I think is the rough plot of Moon Knight.

Steven Grant locks himself daily to prevent his other identities from escaping when he “goes to sleep,” as he uses locks and specific combinations that only the personality of Grant would know. However, Grant is perplexed as to why Khonshu, the Moon Knight, insomnia, and his mental sanity are all plaguing him.

Marc Spector may have been on a mission for the CIA/SWORD, but was left for dead/betrayed/the mission may have failed. Where he was left was most probably by a place where Khonshu revived him and had Marc reborn as the Moon Knight. As a result, Grant is confused as to why this is all occurring to him, but unbeknownst to Grant, it is due to the actions of Spector, sharing the same body as Grant. Grant sleeps, Moon Knight takes over, and Grant is all the more tired and sleep-deprived for it. As a result, Grant will have skills (such as hand-to-hand combat) that Spector utilizes, confusing him as to how he became so deadly. I cannot wait!

From a creative device, this also allows the audience to be taken in by the mystery of the Moon Knight. Grant is perplexed at the confusing and rather horrifying ordeal– as will be the audience. Essentially, Steven Grant is an avatar for the audience’s experiences, while Marc Spector/Moon Knight drives and pushes the story. And having Oscar Isaac play two completely different characters in the same body… this show has the potential to be Marvel’s best yet!