Fans of the Disney PlusMarvel StudiosspecialWerewolf by Nightmay be in for some more vintage-style lycanthrope action, at least if the lead actor has anything to say about it. Gael García Bernal, who starred in the excellent mini-story, is itching to get back into character. But how likely would a return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe be?
Werewolf by Nightwas an Easter egg-filled surprisewhen it dropped on Disney Plus in October 2022. Not only was this standalone special presentation a departure fromMarvel Studios' typical interconnected structure of shows and movies, but it offered a massively different vibe from anything Marvel Studios had utilized before. As a callback to schlocky horror from the ’50s, this black-and-white oddity told the story of Jack Russell, a monster hunter with a beastly secret of his own. Along with endearing itself to audiences, it looks like the experience also drew in Bernal, and he’d love to do it again.
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Bernal recently spoke withColliderabout the possibility of aWerewolf by Nightfollow-up. While promoting his new filmCassandro, he offered some enthusiastic words. “I would be delighted because also, it was just a little tease what we got, you know?” he gushed. “And what I experienced by playing this character inWerewolf by Night, I loved it. And the people that were there, with Laura Donnelly, it was fantastic to work with her because she’s a very strong diehard horror movie fan, and it was fantastic to play that. And yes, I hope that we can do that in different ways, shapes and forms. And who knows where it’s gonna go? I have no idea, but I want to be part of that and I really love how it came out. I’m very pleased.”
It’s hard not to share Bernal’s passion for the idea, especially given how uniqueWerewolf by Nightis in the modern MCU landscape. It’s one thing to haveexcellent superhero series likeMs. MarvelandShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawthat can work as standalone projects while remaining overtly tied to the rest of the MCU. ButWerewolf by Nightgoes a step further by distancing itself from those overarching connections to the point where someone who’s never seen a Marvel movie can enjoy and appreciate it just as much as a diehard MCU veteran. It’s easy to see why some would love to explore that idea more.
Many seeWerewolf by Nightas a solid blueprint for future Marvel projects, particularly in its standalone nature. It’s a common criticism of the larger franchise that it relies too much on callbacks and references. This sort of thing can alienate newcomers to the MCU because even some of the most beloved standout projects, likeThor: Ragnarok, still require a certain knowledge of previous films to appreciate. That’s not even to mention others likeSpider-Man: No Way Home, which goes a step further by containing references to 3 different collections of movies as its entire premise.
Werewolf by Nightwas a refreshing flurry of firsts for the franchise, including theMarvel directorial debut of composer Michael Giacchino. It’s not often that the MCU has something so boldly new to offer. So here’s hoping the folks in charge take a cue from this success story and give the fans (and Bernal) what they want.
