Werewolf by Night

Werewolf By Night confirms that when it comes to Marvel's live-action Disney+ projects, less is more.

[Moon Knight Season 2](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/marvel-moon-knight-deserve-season-2/)?”, or “will Elsa go on to bust Black Knight’s balls in the Blade reboot?” seem beside the point. [classic Universal](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/universal-monsters-how-the-wolf-man-created-the-first-cinematic-universe/) and Hammer output, and even adding cue marks to the top right corner of the screen. Werewolf By Night, with its themes of alienation and reckoning with the legacy of an abusive family dynamic, will stay with me. It’s hard not to imagine a version of [Moon Knight](https://www.denofgeek.com/moon-knight) that leaned into this vibe. It’s fun to have spent time in this world, but part of Phase Four’s problem has been an often-misplaced fixation on “what’s next?” and less focus on delivering a viewing experience that stays with you. Jack doesn’t need to tell us about the one time he was able to remember a friend when he was in werewolf form, we get to imagine those circumstances for ourselves when heartbreak briefly flashes in Bernal’s eyes.

"Werewolf By Night" opens with a narration by Rick Wasserman about the known part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which basically involves all the ...

And while it’s evident that Ted is going to continue his friendship with Jack, there’s a high chance that Elsa is going to continue the legacy of the Bloodstone family and go after the likes of Jack and Ted. Post that, Elsa goes to look for Ted/Man-Thing, and Russell rushes to the weak part of the maze that can be blown apart by the explosive that he has. Swan pledges allegiance to Elsa, and she tells him to start cleaning up the mess in the manor. They are going after them for “fun.” Additionally, you can say that Jack’s story is that of being of two worlds (humans and monsters) and the repercussions of saving or destroying either of them. As expected, Russell gets to be the one to set the tournament into motion, and the rest of the participants go after him. Elsa informs him that the Bloodstone is capable of transforming him in five seconds. So, Elsa agrees to take part in the tournament and proves to Verussa that she isn’t as big of a disappointment as Verussa keeps making her out to be. Man-Thing points out the Bloodstone that has been attached to his body, which is both weakening him and making him angry. However, instead of getting frightened by it, Russell pats it and reveals that he’s actually a friend of Man-Thing, and he’s there to rescue him. He says that Man-Thing is going to be unleashed into the sacred grounds, and the one to slay it is going to possess the Bloodstone. Elsa says that if she (FYI, Verussa is Elsa’s step-mother) is ready to give her the relic, then they don’t have to go through all the formalities. And the thing that they are supposed to slay is the Man-Thing (Carey Jones).

Marvel's Halloween Special is howling around on Disney Plus now. Here's the low-down on the new characters, horror homages and MCU connections [spoilers].

[She-Hulk](/culture/entertainment/she-hulk-release-schedule-when-does-episode-9-hit-disney-plus/) just brought back [Daredevil](/culture/entertainment/she-hulk-episode-8-recap-daredevil-returns-plus-marvel-easter-eggs/) and now heads for its finale next Thursday Oct. Stuart Immonen is thanked for his work defining the look of Elsa Bloodstone in anarchic comic series Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. In that case, the black-and-white sections denoted the 'real' world, and color signaled a shift into the fantasy realm of Oz (which may have been a dream). You'd think the tomb in which Elsa and Jack are momentarily trapped would be ripe for Easter eggs, but the various names on the headstones aren't obvious Marvel comics references. This use of color is probably just a stylistic nod to a classic movie, but we're here to overthink things so it's tempting to wonder whether this is some kind of comment on the nature of reality in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As well as appearing recently in Star Trek: Picard, Thatcher is perhaps best known as the punk rocker who encountered Spock on a bus in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Interestingly Werewolf by Night is the reverse of The Wizard of Oz, which shifted to luminous [Technicolor](/culture/entertainment/technicolor-100-years-the-gulf-between/) for most of the story then ended by going back to monochrome. The TV movie is a tribute to vintage horror from roughly the first half of the 20th century. From the vintage-styled opening credits to the contorted, maze-like graveyard setting and crackly 1940s gramophone tunes, there are nods to the expressionist horror of silent movies like 1922's Nosferatu and 1920's The Cabinet of Dr. With Elsa's help, Jack helps the hunt's prey escape, revealing the tentacled terror Man-Thing is more of a gentle giant (named Ted). But the hunter with the most kills, Jack Russell, is not the deadly slayer he professes to be: Instead of killing creatures, he frees them. (Not because this article is scary, just because of spoilers).

Get ready for a monstrous new side of the MCU. Check out this brand-new featurette for Marvel Studios' Special Presentation: Werewolf by Night, streaming in one ...

If you couple that with Man-Thing's earlier [Easter egg appearance in Thor: Ragnarok](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a833999/thor-ragnarok-trailer-easter-egg-beta-ray-bill-man-thing-ares/), it's clear that there's a plan in motion to make this big green oaf count in some important way. But if we're right, the ramifications of [Werewolf By Night](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a38742852/marvel-werewolf-by-night-disney-plus-outlander-laura-donnelly/) will actually be felt soon throughout the entire multiverse, culminating with one giant crossover event in [Avengers: Secret Wars](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a41500631/avengers-secret-wars-doctor-strange-loki-writer/). [John Krasinski's Mr Fantastic](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a39940365/doctor-strange-2-fantastic-four-reed-richards-franklin/) in Multiverse of Madness, "an incursion occurs when the boundary between two universes erodes and they collide, destroying one or both entirely". After all, he's the keeper for the Nexus of All Realities, a vulnerable location that could become the focal point of this battle to come. He's almost certainly referring to Man-Thing, a character he actually suggested for Werewolf By Night. But regardless of the outcome, it's hard to imagine that this erosion of the multiverse won't impact Man-Thing in some pivotal way. Man-Thing is also the keeper for the Nexus of All Realities, a place where every timeline and universe intersects in one single point. Like, "the whole future of the entire multiverse depends on it" kind of important. That's not all though. And it all starts here with Man-Thing. [Moon Knight](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a39891356/moon-knight-season-2-release-date-disney/) and [Multiverse of Madness](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a39839375/doctor-strange-2-review-multiverse-of-madness/). [Marvel](https://www.digitalspy.com/marvel/)'s [Werewolf By Night](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a41153479/marvel-werewolf-by-night-first-trailer-release-date/) is a schlocky, campy funhouse ride that channels the best monster movies of yesteryear to create something fans have never seen before in the [MCU](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a825774/marvel-cinematic-universe-in-chronological-order/).

Gael García Bernal and Laura Donnelly lead the one-off as Jack Russell and Elsa Bloodstone, two characters with the potential to become major recurring players ...

More recently, she's joined Ryan Murphy's catalogue of stars with roles in [American Horror Story](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/american-horror-story-season-11-release-date/): Apocalypse, [Hollywood](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/when-is-hollywood-released-on-netflix-whats-it-about-whos-in-the-cast/) and [Ratched](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/ratched-season-2-release-date/). She has also appeared in [Merlin](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/merlin-at-10-the-cast-and-creatives-on-how-they-made-the-bbcs-boy-wizard-drama/), The Fall, [Outlander](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/outlander-season-7-release-date/) and Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, as well as 2019 biopic Tolkien. [Sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 for a year](https://disneyplus.bn5x.net/c/1236178/564546/9358?subId1=radiotimes-1717694&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disneyplus.com%2Fen-gb). [Westworld](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/westworld-season-5-release-date/), while he previously dabbled in comic book horror for DC's short-lived (but fan favourite) Swamp Thing series. One of his recent projects is another Halloween special, [Muppets Haunted Mansion](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/muppets-haunted-mansion-release-date-disney-plus/). Last year, she made a guest appearance in acclaimed US comedy [Hacks](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/hacks-uk-watch/), while on the big screen, she featured in Best Picture nominee [Licorice Pizza](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/licorice-pizza-watch-online-stream/). [subscribe now](http://radiotimes.com/magazine-subscription?utm_term=evergreen-article) and get the next 12 issues for only £1. [Frasier](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/frasier-reboot-release-date/) and Felicia in Desperate Housewives. Though said to have wracked up hundreds of kills in his time, he hides a dark secret (you can probably guess what it is by the title). "What attracted me to her story so much was this idea of what you grow up with, and what you’re told by your family, and who you are shaped to be by them, whether that’s for good or bad," said actor Laura Donnnelly. The magical gem her father wielded in life was once hers by birthright, but now she will have to fight to prove herself worthy of holding it. On joining the Marvel universe, actor Gael García Bernal said: "I was actually very happy that the story was not about a superhero, but about a monster and about that world, because I feel that monsters are more human than superheroes.

Werewolf by Night saw Marvel get monstrous for the very first time, but what does the ending of the Halloween special really mean?

What did you think of Werewolf by Night? It’s clear there is something there between Jack and Elsa, for the Werewolf by Night within Jack did not harm her in spite of his fears that he would. The ending sequence saw Jack and Ted sitting peacefully in the woods just after the former changed back. No, Jack was the Werewolf by Night. In the end, he managed to save his friend from the hunters and himself after they forced him to turn. Jack Russell’s participation in the evening of hunting had absolutely nothing to do with taking down the creature known as Man-Thing.

Moon Knight made his Marvel Comics debut in Werewolf by Night, but does the character appear in the Marvel Studios Halloween special?

Are you disappointed that Oscar Issac did not reprise his role as Moon Knight in Werewolf by Night? As amazing as it would have been to see Moon Knight in action once again via even just a brief cameo, it made sense for the writers to keep the special self-contained and not try to do too much. Is you’re hoping to see Oscar Isaac suit up as Moon Knight and make a cameo in Werewolf by Night, I’m afraid we have some bad news for you.

Werewolf by Night is a modestly entertaining diversion, but one can't shake the feeling it doesn't add up to as much as it could have or should have with a ...

It’s a script that's lost between a short film and a feature, too overcrowded for the former and too thin for the latter. Most of the hunters lack in definition or personality—which is a problem—but the mysterious Jack ( [Gael García Bernal](/cast-and-crew/gael-garc%C3%ADa-bernal)) clearly hides a secret while Elsa Bloodstone ( [Laura Donnelly](/cast-and-crew/laura-donnelly)) comes to the night’s events with some heavy baggage. For the most part, “Werewolf by Night” is a modestly entertaining diversion, but one can’t shake how it doesn’t add up to as much as it could have been with a more ambitious team behind it.

There's a lot to unpack in the new special, which successfully pays homage to horror classics while connecting to the bigger Marvel Cinematic Universe. So, of ...

I don't know what to do with myself.’” What do I do now? While Kevin Feige keeps us all in the dark about the future of the MCU and how every production is connected, Marvel Studios should snatch Giacchino for a sequel of Werewolf by Night while they can. The director is taking a break for the first time in many years and is already wondering what he’ll do next. So would I want to do more with them? Werewolf By Night, however, proves Giacchino knows how to make the most of a franchise.

Details on how to attend Collider's free screening of Marvel Studios' Werewolf by Night in 35mm followed by a Q&A with director Michael Giacchino.

Werewolf by Night is about a secret cabal of monster hunters that meet up at the Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. That’s because on Thursday, October 13 at 10:45pm, Collider is partnering with Marvel Studios for a special screening of Werewolf by Night in 35mm at the New Beverly Cinema and we’ll have Michael Giacchino for the Q&A. If you’re a fan of Michael Giacchino, Marvel Studios, Werewolf by Night, and seeing movies projected in 35mm, you’re going to want to send me an email.

'Werewolf by Night' Star Gael García Bernal Says Diego Luna Showed Him the Ropes of Disney Franchise Stardom ... The actor discusses his practical transformation ...

Before I started to work on this, I was like, “What am I going to do?” But once you get your feet dirty and put your hands in the clay and start to play around, you gain a little bit of the character. So as soon as Michael told me what he wanted to do and the way he wanted to approach it, I said, “Yeah, let’s do this!” So it’s been great, and I feel really lucky to be in this world of Marvel because of their know-how and infrastructure. There’s a little bit of appropriation that happens, and once you put the mask on, the whole world is built. The black and white is something that I hadn’t thought about [with regard to the rating], but yes, exactly. By the end, it was actually quite fast. Apparently, the black and white kept it at TV-14. But it was fascinating to be around all these other projects and people, and doing a press conference and press junket, in a sense, with all these different films and TV series was incredible. So we were taken care of, and I can’t wait to do more with this great opportunity. So it’s been great to have a good friend who’s also living something similar as well,” García Bernal tells The Hollywood Reporter. It was fantastic to have the opportunity to interpret this character. So it’s been great to have a good friend who’s also living something similar as well. García Bernal is not a complete stranger to Disney, having previously voiced the role of Héctor in Pixar’s Coco, but joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe and leading its first-ever “Special Presentation” is certainly a different beast.

The actor talks to ET about the Halloween special and if he'll return with the Midnight Sons.

“I wish as well that there’s a lot of possibilities to play with this character even more.” “I was immediately on board,” Bernal says of joining the project, which is a major departure in tone, style and storytelling for the MCU. “I was approached by many fans that knew more about the world of Midnight Sons than I did. But as the actor explains, the effort put into the makeup and costume was well worth it. And that was funny, you know, because sometimes they ask me things and I go like, ‘Well, it seems you know even more than I do about this,’” the actor says, before teasing, “Let’s see where this leads. “At the beginning, it was a long process,” he says.

In Screen Gab No. 55, our resident Marvel expert breaks down a new Halloween special, we catch up with '30 Rock's' Jack McBrayer and more.

[Moon Knight](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-04-20/moon-knight-episodes-marvel-oscar-isaac-guide) made his first appearance in the pages of the “Werewolf by Night” comics. I loved the cultural exposure and educational elements of [“Sesame Street”](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-08-21/hbo-max-sesame-street-episodes-removed-warner-bros-discovery) ( [HBO Max](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-03-23/best-tv-shows-hbo-max-what-to-watch), PBS Kids). [“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-11-26/mister-rogers-widow-legacy-a-beautiful-day-in-the-neighborhood) (PBS Kids). Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) are among the influential Latinos profiled in this new documentary. But I especially loved the fun and playfulness of [“The Electric Company”](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jan-19-et-electric-company19-story.html) (Hulu). Our critic weighs in](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-10-05/reginald-the-vampire-let-right-one-in-anne-rice-interview-with-vampire-review): With “Let the Right One In,” “Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire” and “Reginald the Vampire,” the undead are having a TV moment. Here’s a quick (spoiler-free) rundown of everything you need to know about the MCU’s first TV special, out now on Disney+. [the undeniable Niecy Nash-Betts](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-09-27/niecy-nash-betts-wife-jessica-betts-the-rookie-feds-dahmer-netflix) as Simone Clark, a guidance counselor turned probationary FBI agent, but conveniently attached to a new unit of “out of the box thinkers” — where, as the farthest out of the box, she is immediately crucial to cracking cases. [stars Channing Tatum](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-02-17/dog-review-channing-tatum-veteran-ptsd), after all. [‘All of us are still friends’: A generation later, ‘The Love Boat’ crew sails on](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-10-04/the-love-boat-cast-members-ted-lange-jill-whelan-real-love-boat): Reuniting for “The Real Love Boat,” original castmates Ted Lange and Jill Whelan reflect on the show’s guest stars, racism in ‘70s Hollywood and more. [How an ‘incredible’ real-life feat gave a TV show about the Troubles its happy ending](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-10-03/netflix-derry-girls-series-finale-creator-lisa-mcgee-good-friday-agreement): “Derry Girls” creator Lisa McGee breaks down the Netflix series’ final season, including its “tricksy” timeline and that surprise cameo. [After a major cast shake-up, ‘SNL’ confronts its weaknesses — but can’t overcome them](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-10-02/snl-miles-teller-kendrick-lamar-new-cast-season-premiere): After a sharp meta-opener and a send-up of Armie Hammer, it was all downhill for the Season 48 premiere of the beleaguered sketch show.

The scion of the Bloodstone monster hunters, Elsa has made a name for herself in cult comics such as Nextwave: Agents of HATE and Monsters Unleashed. But those ...

[Avengers](https://www.denofgeek.com/the-avengers/) [Nick Fury](https://www.denofgeek.com/nick-fury/) assembled in 1959, and later as the leader of various monster hunter organizations, including the Covenant. But there are still plenty of monsters in the MCU, monsters that might draw the attention of Elsa Bloodstone. The Bloodgem choker worn by Elsa gives her the ability to shoot energy blasts and the ring worn by her brother Cullen gives him ESP. After all, living with Ulysses has taught Elsa Bloodstone who the real monsters are. She did not return to Boston until after Ulysses’s death, at which point she began wearing the Bloodgem as a choker and started her own monster hunting career. In theory, Bloodstone’s primary quest drove him to search for other pieces of the inter-dimensional meteor from which the Bloodgem spawned and to get revenge against the Hellfire Helix, a creature from the Bloodgem’s dimension who killed Ulysses’ prehistoric tribe. But he was literally a throwback, a caveman sustained and evolved by the Bloodgem. The scion of the Bloodstone monster hunters, Elsa has made a name for herself in cult comics such as Nextwave: Agents of HATE and Monsters Unleashed. In her last appearance, Elsa and Cullen discovered their ancient half-sister Lyra, who was thought to be long-ago sacrificed to a monster by Ulysses. If the special piqued your interest, here’s a quick look at the history of Elsa Bloodstone, her father Ulysses, and the Bloodgem. The story of the Bloodstone family begins with the Bloodgem, a fragment of an interdimensional meteor that crashed onto the Earth eons ago. The upcoming Halloween special [Werewolf by Night](https://www.denofgeek.com/werewolf-by-night/) seems like a continuation of that approach, pushing lesser-known wolfman character Jack Russell to the forefront.

The inheritor of a family curse, Jack Russell debuted in Marvel Spotlight #2, written by the trio of Roy Thomas, Jeanie Thomas, and Gerry Conway, with pencils ...

In 1972, Marvel added to the canon with a take on a classic trope with Werewolf by Night. Giacchino digs deep into Werewolf by Night lore, bringing along a few other beloved Marvel Characters. Most of the Atlas beasties transported to the Marvel Universe in a new form, as did famous monsters like Godzilla and Count Dracula, to regularly do battle with the Avengers and the X-Men.

Marvel Studios' chilling Special Presentation Werewolf by Night is now streaming exclusively on Disney+, inviting fans to explore a new corner of the Marvel ...

“Collaborating with Jeff was great because as I was writing the score in one room, he was editing the film in the next room, so I would go back and forth. “Sometimes you get a better idea in the moment,” he says. This is what this character is going through.’ It was a great way to communicate.” “But I was like, ‘No, I want the most obscure, weird thing you have—and as a kid, that was Werewolf by Night.” Drawing inspiration from classic black-and-white monster films, his idea for Werewolf by Night presented an opportunity to take yet another big, creative swing for Marvel Studios. “I’ve actually been making movies since I was 9 years old,” he clarifies. “Music was something I did for a very long time and loved,” he says.

How did Ulysses Bloodstone die before the events of Marvel's Werewolf By Night? The answer may have been right in front of us.

[Mahershala Ali](https://www.denofgeek.com/mahershala-ali/) is ready to unfurl his wings as Blade in the MCU, and with the daywalker having a penchant for hunting down blood-sucking vampires, he’d be well-matched to join Elsa and Jack on their next mission. [ComicBook.com](https://comicbook.com/movies/news/why-blade-and-moon-knight-dont-appear-in-werewolf-by-night-revealed-exclusive/)) that Moon Knight and Blade wouldn’t be in Werewolf by Night, the special’s atmosphere and shooting style means there are calls for him to take over from [Bassam Tariq to direct Blade](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/marvel-blade-reboot-troubles/). [Heavy Spoilers](https://youtu.be/srP94h50G-0), a rough translation of the Latin in Werewolf by Night suggests that Jack was the one who killed Ulysses Bloodstone. The events of Werewolf by Night are triggered by the death of Ulysses Bloodstone. Although their Latin is a little rusty, the opening credits that give us the Bloodstone backstory apparently say something along the lines of: “This tearful Bloodstone, Ulysses the seventh son, as far as the stones are concerned, is slain, and is slain on the last full moon of the year, at the end of the blood/bloodshed.” Connecting the dots, it’s not too much of a leap to imagine Jack killed Ulysses thanks to his death falling on the night of a full moon. [Werewolf by Night](https://www.denofgeek.com/werewolf-by-night/) made its bloody debut as the first Marvel Studios Special Presentation.

Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for Werewolf by Night.The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to balloon in size with sequels, spin-offs, and origin ...

Understandably, Elsa is furious that Jack concealed his monster identity, and is pretty positive he is going to kill her as soon as he turns. Verussa stands up and gets ready to kill Elsa for being a disgrace to the family, but Man-Thing, er, Ted, breaks through the ceiling and burns her alive before setting off on his search for Jack. He encourages Elsa to be friendly to the hideous beast when they meet and to be sure to call him by his name: Ted. That’s because the Bloodstone is allergic to monsters, and Jack is actually a werewolf. As "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" plays, the black and white screen turns to color, revealing her red jacket. Jack realizes that one of the hunters overheard him, and runs to safety in a room, where Elsa happens to be taking a breather. Sure enough, Elsa calling him by his name calms him down, and she’s able to yank the stone from his back. The plan is for Jack to throw a tiny bomb device at the nearest perimeter wall with a giant crack and make a run for it. Despite showing promise at a young age, Elsa seems to have abandoned the monster-hunting life she was expected to live, and thus has lost her birthright to the stone. The two bond over not really wanting to fight, with Jack saying that he is “not that type of hunter.” Okay, so, if he isn’t, then why does he want the stone so bad? A veiled and vengeful Verussa expresses her frustration to Elsa for being absent for 20 years. As explained in the gloomy opening narration, they are a family of monster hunters who explores the darkness to “hunt and slaughter [monsters] with pride.” Ulysses Bloodstone, the patriarch of the powerful family, has been the sole controller of the ancient relic known as the Bloodstone, which has supernatural powers and is considered a “weapon unlike any other.” But, he just died, and now the Bloodstone is without a “master.” A small group of the best monster hunters from around the globe meet up at Bloodstone Manor to honor their deceased and fearless leader and are greeted by Verussa (Harriet Samsom Harris), Ulysses’ eccentric widow.