Marvel Studios Developing Halloween Special for Disney+

We have just learned tonight that Marvel Studios is developing a new Halloween special for Disney+, and the search is one for a Latino lead.

The Wrap reports that Marvel is “actively searching for a Latino actor to lead the cast of an as-yet-untitled Halloween Special that will air on Disney+.”

The report goes on to specify that the studio is looking for Latino male in his 30s to star in the Halloween Special, which is expected to begin production in early 2022, presumably to premiere next October.

The Wrap cites individuals with knowledge, who say the character may be based on Werewolf by Night, a name used by two separate Marvel characters in the comic books.

The first character known as Werewolf by Night was Jack Russell, created by Gerry Conway and Mike Ploog based on concepts by Stan Lee and Roy Thomas, who first appeared in a 1972 issue of Marvel Spotlight and later starred in a Werewolf by Night series that ran for 43 issues ending in 1977. Russell is a descendant Lycanthropes, and that series was where readers were first introduced to Moon Knight, a character whose own Disney+ series is coming in 2022.

Marvel introduced a second version of the character, Jake Gomez, in the 2020 Werewolf by Night (Vol. 3) #1. This iteration of the character is a member of the Hopi Native American tribe, whose family has been cursed with lycanthropy, and he clashes with a nefarious pharmaceutical company exploiting members of the tribe.

We’ll have to wait and see which version of the character (if any) will be the inspiration for the new Halloween special.

Disney+ is apparently all in on the holiday-themed Marvel specials, having just recently wrapped The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which will premiere during the 2022 holiday season.

Maybe we can get a new Halloween special featuring a different Marvel character each year?

Obviously, we will be covering this closely and will update as we learn more soon.

For more Halloween news, follow @HalloweenDaily.

Matt Artz

Founded Halloween Daily News in 2012 and the Halloween International Film Festival in 2016. Professional writer/journalist/photographer since 2000.