Discourse surrounding a live-action Midnight Sons team-up, either as a film or miniseries, currently centers on the complications of adapting Marvel's supernatural corner. Despite the success of Blade in the late '90s and early aughts and the recent Moon Knight series on Disney+, it's not simple magic to conjure up. We don't even know whether either hero has a future in the MCU between delays and radio silence.
Moon Knight actor Oscar Isaac understands more than anyone the complexities of further developing the characters involved. He discussed this in a recent conversation with Happy Sad Confused host Josh Horowitz for his podcast, noting that the difficulty lies most especially in the tonal balance required to make the stories resonate.
Comics and their adaptations are full of "crazy" elements, elevating well-written characters with lots of baggage. Isaac argues the challenge lies in effectively merging those elements, from the demons to dark magic, with the grounded, serious themes present in the origins of Blade, Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider, and Marc Spector. Each has dealt with loss in their own way, including that of their own souls to certain degrees.
The primary hurdle involves maintaining a narrative integrity that respects their trauma and personal struggle in the face of occult spectacle. The temptation is to sacrifice character development in favor of that spectacle in all its CGI excess. Isaac's one condition for a Midnight Sons movie is that the script should focus on genuine human stakes to ensure horror elements serve characters and story rather than overwhelm the audience's senses.
As Isaac wants to step back into the hood and white boots of Moon Knight, he is invested in the project's potential. He even has an idea for a poster -- a poster with Ghost Rider on his flaming motorcycle plus himself as Spector and Mahershala Ali as Blade riding along. They hold on tight, riding into battle. There's a definite cinematic quality to that image, as well as a stereotypical comic book one. The description fits sundry covers and splash pages seen on shelves and within volumes over the years.
Isaac is also on board with the rumored casting of Ryan Gosling as the Devil's bounty hunter, calling the prospect a "no-brainer" and urging Marvel to move forward with it. Starring in one of the most successful films this year, so far, Project Hail Mary, might raise their interest level.
Ultimately, the goal of a Midnight Sons adaptation, no matter the form it takes, is to create a distinct character-driven experience with all the familiar trappings of superhero cinema. Rather than a roadblock, many agree with Isaac -- there is an opportunity for a unique project that stands apart from the average blockbuster.
For now, the concept remains a compelling what-if until we finally behold Mahershala Ali as Blade, the reintroduction of Ghost Rider, and the return of Moon Knight. Marc Spector probably won't be back in his own series, at least not right away, and we are likely to wait until after Avengers: Doomsday.
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