The release of on Plus has introduced fans across the globe to a brand new multi-faceted character, played by in the TV series.
The , a mercenary with dissociative identity disorder who sometimes adopts the persona of Steven Grant, an awkward gift shop worker living in the UK.
Marc is a conduit for the , who fights injustice while donning a striking suit.
With Moon Knight being the first Marvel show on the streaming platform to be led by a new character, some viewers may be questioning where he fits into the timeline of the MCU, or whether he does at all.
Here’s what you need to know.
Is Moon Knight part of the MCU?
Ahead of Moon Knight’s launch on Disney Plus, executive producer Grant Curtis remarked that the show had ‘no attachment to the current MCU’, adding: ‘He’s brand-new, and he is going on a brand-new adventure. We really think the fans are going to enjoy it.’
However, for fans worried that this means that Moon Knight is not part of the MCU – there’s no reason to fret, as he is still very much part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Speaking about the show, executive producer and Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige said: ‘It was very exciting to take Moon Knight’s origin story, which is grounded in Egyptology, and infuse it with globetrotting adventure, intensity and mystery. The edgy, dark themes of Moon Knight and the exploration of the unique character add another dimension to the MCU’s storytelling.’
So there you have it – Marvel’s head himself referring to the fact that the new caped crusader is an MCU character.
On top of that, Moon Knight was confirmed as being part of Phase Four of the MCU, which began with WandaVision in January 2021.
Where does Moon Knight fit in the MCU timeline?
Because Moon Knight is separate from MCU entities that have come before it, pinpointing exactly when it takes place in the timeline could be tricky… unless you know where to look.
In a teaser released ahead of the show’s launch, there was a hint that provided an indication as to when it is set.
In one of the promos, Moon Knight is shown standing in front of a double-decker bus with an advert for the Global Repatriation Council on the side of the vehicle.
The GRC, first shown in Marvel series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, is an international organisation in the MCU that was formed after the people who were wiped out by the Blip returned and found themselves displaced in a world that had moved on during their five-year disappearance.
Another billboard for the council was also briefly shown in the 2021 film Eternals.
This means that Moon Knight is set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, when the half of the universe snapped away by Thanos in Infinity War returned, around the years 2023 or 2024.
Moon Knight is available to watch on Disney Plus with new episodes released on Wednesdays.
