Steven DeKnight is the man who — together with Drew Goddard and Jeff Leob — brought Daredevil to the small screen via the excellent Marvel-Netflix show. DeKnight has since moved onto features, directing the recently released Pacific Rim Uprising. And while discussing that movie with FANDOM, DeKnight also talked about his take on Daredevil, as well as the other Marvel characters he’d like to see make the move to Netflix.
Adapting Daredevil
Steven DeKnight: “Marvel has such great characters. And to be able to give Daredevil his due and really present him in a way that myself and Drew Goddard and Jeff Leob at Marvel TV really felt he deserved. Taking that Frank Miller-era Daredevil along with Alex Maleev and Brian Michael Bendis, their run. Which was hugely influential for all of us. Just to be able to craft a story and really tell the origin of not only Daredevil, but the origin of Kingpin as a counterpoint. It’s the stuff of dreams. I was so happy to be able to do that.”
Potential New Characters
DeKnight: “It has been such a joy to see them carry on and continue and expand that universe. I loved Jessica Jones. I loved Luke Cage. Then I started working on the movie so I still haven’t had a chance to see Iron Fist yet, one of my favourite characters growing up. I so look forward to seeing them to continue to develop this. And hopefully keep adding those street level characters.
“I’d love to see Moon Knight show up. I’d love to see Werewolf by Night in there. Just all the comics that I grew up loving. It’s so nice to see Marvel take that chance with a more adult-themed take on the superheroes that they can’t do in the movies.”
Who Are Werewolf by Knight and Moon Night?
Werewolf by Night first appeared in Marvel Spotlight #2 in February 1972. His alter ego is Jack Russell, a Los Angeles teen who inherits the curse of the werewolf on his 18th birthday. The character was so popular that by September 1972 he was headlining his own title, which dealt with family drama within the troubled Russell clan, and saw the character joining up with the Midnight Sons and Legion of Monsters to (sometimes reluctantly) fight evil.
Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32 in August 1975, while he got his own standalone title in 1980. The character is the crimefighting alter-ego of Marc Spector, a boxer-turned-Marine-turned-CIA operative. But it was resurrection in an Egyptian tomb that gave him superpowers, which are exacerbated when the moon is full. Hence the name. Moon Knight was a sometime member of both The Defenders and Heroes for Hire, meaning an appearance in the Marvel-Netflix shows would make sense.