Gael García Bernal is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Mozart in the Jungle star has been cast in an untitled Marvel Halloween special for Disney+ set to begin production early next year.
Although details are sparse, The Wrap delivered the news early Thursday morning (November 4). It is not known yet what Bernal’s role will entail, but The Wrap is reporting that he could transform into the character Werewolf by Night.
In the Marvel comics, Werewolf by Night has taken on two separate alter egos – Jack Russell (yes, like the dog breed), a Transylvanian man with a long lineage of werewolf ancestors, and Jake Gómez, a young Native American boy, who first turns into a werewolf at the age of 13. It is currently unknown if either of these characters will serve as the inspiration for Bernal’s special.
The Werewolf by Night comic book with Russell as the main character published 43 issues from 1972 to 1977. During its run, it set the stage for the first appearance of Moon Knight, the character that actor Oscar Isaac will portray in his own Disney+ series next year. Can we say crossover?
This year, Bernal starred in the M. Night Shyamalan thriller Old. Prior to the film’s release this summer, Bernal told Remezcla that audiences had to put some effort in to connect with Shyamalan’s strange movie. “There is no simple answer or message,” he said. “We don’t like messages in films. We like open questions, you know?”
There are plenty of “open questions” with Werewolf by Night, but hopefully, Bernal fans will be howling for joy soon.