Marvel Studios utilized Super Bowl LVI perfectly to build incredible hype for its Phase 4 slate coming in 2022. While the headliner was the magical mayhem coming in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, fans also got a new look at the year's first Disney+ show, Moon Knight. Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke are set to lead the way in this six-episode adventure, one that opens the door to new possibilities in the MCU.
This new spot provided a look at mind-bending visuals and a hint of the story's ties back to ancient Egyptian mythology, a key part of Marc Spector's origin story. Giving a look into the madness inside Steven Grant's head is already setting up a mind-bending thriller of a story, which will only grow more complex as the hero's multiple personalities each take the spotlight through the plot.
Fans also got another look at Ethan Hawke's villainous Arthur Harrow, one of the more obscure villains being brought into Phase 4's lineup of big bads.
Hawke has shared information on what makes his villain so terrifying, already having been teased as something of a cult leader after Moon Knight's first trailer dropped in January. This time, the longtime Hollywood star got a chance to show a hint of how powerful he truly is, and the new spot even gave a suggestion of where that power may come from as well.
Easter Egg for Moon Knight's Secret Villain?
The 30-second Super Bowl spot for Marvel Studios' Moon Knight provided an Easter Egg tied to Ethan Hawke's Arthur Harrow. This small detail may give a tease about who Harrow is actually working for in the show against Oscar Isaac's Marc Spector.
Harrow is seen holding a cane in the show's first trailer and the Super Bowl spot. This new footage shows that the handle of the cane is engraved with two crocodile heads on the ends:
The cane also emits a purple energy from its handle, which Harrow seemingly uses to call on a similarly colored energy from the sky out of the top of an Egyptian pyramid:
These crocodiles may be a tease for the obscure Marvel being Ammut, a sphinx from the ancient Egyptian religion and mythology who oftentimes takes the form of a humanoid crocodile. She was created by magic from the goddess Ma'at and is also known in some stories as "Eater of the Dead."
Ammut is known to judge the souls of the dead as they enter the underworld. Specifically, she weighs their souls against a feather, and whoever wasn't deemed virtuous would be devoured instantly.
Harrow In the Service of Egyptian Gods?
The Moon Knight comics already have a mythological component to them, as Marc Spector gains his powers from the Egyptian moon god Khonshu. With the gods and mythology being somewhat unexplored for the most part in MCU lore, Moon Knight seems to be fully tackling that idea in this show centered around ancient Egyptian legends.
How does this tie back to Ethan Hawke's villain in the Disney+ series? It seems as though Marvel is exploring a unique route to make that happen by taking some diversions from the comic pages.
Arthur Harrow is known as a genius scientist who works in pain theory, and in some comic runs, he winds up in a vision in Marc Spector's head. For his introduction into the MCU, he'll boast an undisclosed level of superpowers, which could tie him back to Ammut and other parts of Egyptian mythology.
Ammut seems to dwell in the Egyptian version of purgatory, although it's a mystery how Arthur Harrow ends up tying into her story in the show. Perhaps she's the deity his cult-like organization worships, or perhaps he makes a deal with her in order to move towards something more fulfilling in his own journey.
No matter the answers, fans will be looking forward to seeing exactly how the Egyptian gods come into play with both Harrow and Oscar Isaac's leading hero. This will be a consistent theme throughout all six episodes as both of their characters are fleshed out, and with the action that came in the Super Bowl spot, there will be no shortage of mystical madness.
Moon Knight is set to begin streaming on Disney+ on March 30, 2022.
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