Fans now know a little more about who Disney is looking for to play Moon Knight in their upcoming Disney+ series, as it’s reported they’re looking for a Jewish-Israeli Zac Efron-type. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige announced Moon Knight last month at Disney’s D23 Expo. Before that, many thought the character might be introduced to the MCU on film rather than on TV. Some fans believed Keanu Reeves might be a good choice, with Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo saying it was “a good call.” During the original Moon Knight announcement, Feige didn’t discuss casting, but did share the show’s sleek new logo.

In the comics, Moon Knight starts out as Marc Spector, a boxer turned U.S. Marine. Following his time in the Marines, Spector works for the CIA and becomes a mercenary. Soon after, he takes up the mantle of Moon Knight and amasses a small fortune. Many have drawn comparisons between Moon Knight and DC’s Batman, pointing out that they’re both rich and use gadgets. However, Moon Knight suffers from dissociative identity disorder, while Batman does not. Additionally, Moon Knight’s powers depend on the moon. He’s at his most powerful when the moon is at its fullest.

According to Geeks WorldWide, Marvel is searching for a Jewish actor “who is preferably of Israeli descent” to play Moon Knight. They’re also hoping for a “Zac Efron-type,” but haven’t specified anything beyond that. Though Efron hasn’t yet appeared in the MCU, both Marvel Studios and fans have expressed excitement at the idea in the past. Back in 2014, there were rumors that Marvel had sent Efron an unspecified script to consider. More recently, artists have imagined him as characters such as Adam Warlock, who may appear in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Efron also has a history with Marvel parent studio Disney, as he launched his career with the massively successful High School Musical franchise.

The Moon Knight series will be a part of Marvel’s Phase 4 along with She-Hulk and Ms. Marvel, which were also announced at the D23 Expo. Marvel’s already confirmed that Ms. Marvel will appear in an MCU film as well. This makes sense because Ms. Marvel, aka Kamala Khan, loves Captain Marvel. Many are speculating that’s the character she’ll meet first in the MCU. She-Hulk also already has a Marvel film connection, with the Hulk himself, Mark Ruffalo, welcoming her to the family soon after the show announcement. Disney hasn’t announced a release date for the Phase 4 shows, but they’ll join Loki, WandaVision, Hawkeye, and several others on the streaming service.

The casting description for Moon Knight is one of the first bits of information for the Phase 4 shows. A key part of Moon Knight’s backstory is that he’s the son of a Jewish-American rabbi, so it’s good that the casting announcement reflects that. Hopefully, Marvel will take the same approach to casting Kamala Khan, who is a Pakistani-American teenager in the comics.  It shows a commitment to the characters and diversity that many Marvel fans will appreciate.

Next: How Every Marvel Disney+ Show Will Connect To The MCU Movies

Source: Geeks WorldWide

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