The release of on in the UK and across the world has left fans astounded by the live-action depiction of the Marvel character by , who leads the cast.
Episode one of the new MCU TV show saw the meek Steven Grant cross paths with Arthur Harrow (), a domineering cult leader who possesses extraordinary power through his cane, through which he serves the Egyptian goddess Ammit.
However, he isn’t the only one with a deity on his side, as Steven discovers that Marc Spector – and so by extension he – is a conduit for the .
In the show, Marc has dissociative identity disorder, which is why Steven has no idea who Marc is when he can hear the distinct personality speaking to him in his head and through his reflection.
That makes the arrival of Khonshu even more terrifying when he first spots him heading his way through the corridor in his apartment block.
Who is Khonshu and who voices him?
Khonshu is the ancient Egyptian god of the moon, with his name translating to mean ‘traveller’, to signify the moon travelling across the sky at night.
The British Museum outlines how Khonshu was often depicted as having a human head, although he was also shown as having the head of a hawk ‘as a sky-deity’.
‘He can be bloodthirsty, helping the king to catch and kill other deities in order that the monarch may absorb their strength by consuming them,’ the museum states.
In the Moon Knight TV series, Khonshu has become an outcast from the other gods, because of his decision to intervene in the mortal world to fight what he regarded as injustices.
The booming sound of Khonshu’s voice can be attributed to F Murray Abraham, who has performed voice roles in the past.
Meanwhile, the moon god’s physical performance is portrayed by Karim El Hakim.
What else has he been in?
As well as voicing Khonshu, F Murray also voiced Jupiter in the 2018 film Isle of Dogs and villainous dragon hunter Grimmel the Grisly in How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.
In 1985, he won the best actor Oscar for his performance in drama Amadeus, a role for which he also received a Golden Globe and a Bafta nomination.
Some of his other performances include starring in Inside Llewyn Davis, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Homeland, Scarface and All the President’s Men.
Karim starred in the TV series Paranormal in 2020, and has also worked within the entertainment industry as a cinematographer, a producer, a director, a writer and a member of the camera and electric department.
Following the premiere of Moon Knight, Karim shared a photo on Instagram of himself at the event with his son with the caption: ‘Finally the secret is out… So happy to share this monumental event with my son Zein and to be part of the amazing cast.’
Moon Knight is available to watch on Disney Plus with new episodes released on Wednesdays.
