Werewolf at night has finally arrived on Disney+ and is a hit with fans and critics alike. The Halloween special not only introduces the titular monster in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but also the monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone and the popular cult icon Man-Thing. The black and white special tells a standalone story and can be enjoyed by both hardcore Marvel fans and those unfamiliar with the franchise and just wanting a good old-fashioned monster movie throwback.
The special’s black-and-white color presentation makes it distinctly different from anything else in the MCU, also allowing for more brute force and some light blood. While at first glance it doesn’t seem to have any major MCU Easter eggs, connections, or overt settings for future projects (it doesn’t even include the typical MCU after-credit scene), it does contain plenty of smaller details that could indicate where Marvel is up to. to take these monster characters in the future. Werewolf by Night and Man-Thing both landed a coveted spot on a promotional poster for the new Avengers ride in Disney’s California Adventure, so these characters are likely essential components of the franchise moving forward. This is how Werewolf at night determines the future of the MCU.
Monster hunt re-examined
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The MCU version of Jack Russell has been redesigned as a “fighter,” but he’s not your typical monster hunter. Here it is shown that he protects and frees monsters. Sooner or later, this will bring him into conflict with Blade, the vampire hunter who will play Mahershala Ali in his own feature film. Vampires and werewolves already have conflict in them, but what happens when a man dedicated to monster hunting crosses paths with someone who has devoted his life to protecting monsters? Blade and Werewolf by Night will likely clash, but will shift each other’s perspective.
Elsa Bloodstone will likely play a part in this as well, as she now owns the Bloodstone. Unlike the other fighters, she seemed less interested in using it for power, but in keeping it out of her stepmother’s hands. It’s not known if Blade had any ties or connections to the Bloodstone fighters, but Elsa and Blade are sure to cross paths soon.
Agatha: Coven of Chaos
Kathryn Hahn’s rendition of Agatha Harkness on WandaVision made her a breakthrough character. She was so popular that in 2021 it was confirmed that the character would be getting her own television series, now titled Agatha Harkness: Coven of Chaos. While it’s not known exactly what the series will be about, it’s safe to say that it will likely touch upon Agatha’s origin story and her many years through history as a witch.
This series could see the appearance of a younger Ulysses Bloodstone, someone Agatha may have encountered in the past. It could also be an area to explore the origins of Werewolf by Night, as the character’s origins are typically related to the Darkhold, the evil book Agatha had in her possession in WandaVision. Elsa Bloodstone could even appear as a supporting character in the series.
Werewolf at night and the black knight
Eternals introduced the character Dane Whitman to the MCU. In the comics, Whitman becomes the superhero Black Knight and wields the powerful sword the Ebony Blade. The item was teased in the movies after the credits, along with the off-screen voice of Mahershala Ali’s Blade. Just as Elsa Bloodstone comes from a long line of monster hunters, Dane Whitman comes from a family with a long ties to the old Ebony Blade.
the opening of Werewolf at night shows a drawing of a group of hunters and one resembles a medieval knight. It may be some of those in the Whitman family legacy who wield the Ebony Blade, possibly Sir Raston who was active during the late sixth and early seventh centuries and was an agent of Kang the Conqueror, the main overarching villain of the Multiverse Saga. It is possible that the Ebony Blade has been a weapon for slaying monsters in the past and will attract the attention of Elsa Bloodstone, Jack Russell or Man-Thing in future MCU projects.
Man-Thing: Guardian of the Multiverse
The origins of Man-Thing in the comics have several connections to elements that have already become commonplace in the MCU. He worked on recreating the Super Soldier that made Captain America, his wife Ellen Brandt was a villain in Iron Man 3and he himself was called by his name on Agents of SHIELD and shown as a statue in Thor: Ragnarok as one of the grandmaster’s former champions. The Multiverse could reveal Man-Thing’s true purpose in the future franchise.
In the comics, the swamp that turns Ted Salis into Man-Thing has magical properties because it’s a Nexus of Realities. Man-Thing becomes the guardian of the Nexus and stops multiverse threats. Phases 4 and 6 are called The Multiverse Saga, and with the cracks in reality resulting from: Loki, Spider-Man: No Way Homeand Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness the multiverse needs a guardian to watch over it and Man-Thing can step in to fill that void.
A Legion of Monsters is coming to the MCU
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Phase 4 of the MCU has explored the supernatural side of the franchise. WandaVision not only introduced the witch Agatha Harkness, but also explored Wanda’s history as the Scarlet Witch, which was expanded upon in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Moon Knight has close ties to many supernatural figures. Blade is getting its own movie set for release on November 3, 2023.
With Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing, Elsa Bloodstone, Moon Knight, and Blade all now in the MCU, along with rumors of Ghost Rider joining soon, it looks like Marvel is assembling a team of supernatural heroes. While Legion of Monsters is a strong name, including non-monsters like Elsa Bloodstone and Moon Knight can imply a name that can welcome all corners of the supernatural MCU. Midnight Suns seems to be the prime candidate as Marvel is about to give the title a big boost with the upcoming video game of the same name.
Werewolf by Night could indicate that a supernatural team is needed not only to protect the normal world from the supernatural, but also to protect monsters from the threat of humans. This team of unlikely heroes will likely be vital in the fight against Kang the Conqueror in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and also major players in Avengers: Secret Wars.