Marvel Knights

[Punisher_MAX]

So I don't know if anyone remembers but Punisher: War Zone actually had a Marvel Knights intro instead of the regular Marvel one we all know and love now.

With Dr. Strange pushing the PG-13 rating, and Moon Knight also being a little bit more violent than normal, and Disney is embracing Daredevil from Netflix, should Marvel establish their "darker/violent" brand so the GA is aware of the type of movie they're getting into? Characters that I think would easily fit a Marvel Knights brand in the MCU would be:

Moon Knight
Punisher
Blade
Dr. Strange
Deadpool
Wolverine
Ghost Rider (should be brought in asap imo)

 

[MadVillainy]

Said it for years that Marvel should do/continue this. Doesn't even have to be for R rated characters. Just for characters who are darker than your standard MCU stuff.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

Said it for years that Marvel should do/continue this. Doesn't even have to be for R rated characters. Just for characters who are darker than your standard MCU stuff.

Midnight Sons would be THE team up movie for this universe of characters.

 

[BobJM]

Midnight Sons would be THE team up movie for this universe of characters.

I’d love for Doctor Strange to team with a Hulk and Silver Surfer in DS3 with Raimi at the helm.

Let Scarlet Witch team with other anti-heroes in Midnight Sons.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

I’d love for Doctor Strange to team with a Hulk and Silver Surfer in DS3 with Raimi at the helm.

Let Scarlet Witch team with other anti-heroes in Midnight Sons.

Punisher, Blade, Ghost Rider, Moon Knight, and Scarlet Witch as a team would be *chef's kiss*

 

[BobJM]

For MCU, I’d probably replace Punisher with Black Knight. And they’re fighting Chthon.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

For MCU, I’d probably replace Punisher with Black Knight. And they’re fighting Chthon.

I'm probably biased but having Frank fighting supernatural baddies alongside superheroes would be pretty entertaining...but yeah considering Black Knight is being introduced, it would make sense.

Frank could also be introduced with the Thunderbolts if thats what things are leading to with US Agent, Yelena and company.

 

[ADollarADay]

They should, yes. They should introduce the Marvel Knights/Marvel MAX logo and have that in front of more edgy PG-13 products AND rated R products.

 

[psylockolussus]

i just don't see Marvel Studios doing a separate branding like Marvel Knights. At the end of the day, its going to be the MCU or the other one (Sonyverse).

 

[SirStrangefolk]

i just don't see Marvel Studios doing a separate branding like Marvel Knights. At the end of the day, its going to be the MCU or the other one (Sonyverse).

I think Marvel Knights would still be MCU and wouldn't replace the MCU designation.
Rather "Knights" would be an additional label that specifies that it has darker content (similar to how say Coca-Cola Zero is not a separate branding from Coca-Cola but something that specifies how its contents might appeal to a different demographic).

I imagine it would have to be "Marvel Studios Knights" or something since right now there is the "Marvel Studios" logo and intro. Something like it shows the whole Marvel Studios intro as it is and then at the end has a short additional animation that adds "Knights" to the Marvel Studios logo or something.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

I think Marvel Knights would still be MCU and wouldn't replace the MCU designation.
Rather "Knights" would be an additional label that specifies that it has darker content (similar to how say Coca-Cola Zero is not a separate branding from Coca-Cola but something that specifies how its contents might appeal to a different demographic).

I imagine it would have to be "Marvel Studios Knights" or something since right now there is the "Marvel Studios" logo and intro. Something like it shows the whole Marvel Studios intro as it is and then at the end has a short additional animation that adds "Knights" to the Marvel Studios logo or something.

They already had a Marvel Knights intro, I literally posted it haha. I dont think the distinction wouldbe confusing cause the general public will just get it.

 

[SirStrangefolk]

They already had a Marvel Knights intro, I literally posted it haha. I dont think the distinction wouldbe confusing cause the general public will just get it.

I know they had a Marvel Knights intro, but that was during the time that all movies based on Marvel properties still had the scrolling comic pages revealing the Marvel logo they've had since 2002 regardless of what studio made it.

Marvel Studios has specifically gone out of their way to distinguishing themselves from all that and have their own branding front and center by creating an intro that shows the MCU versions of the characters through key art and scenes from the movies, their own fanfare music, as well as having the logo say "Marvel Studios" rather than just "Marvel". There is no chance they're going to reuse the Marvel Knights intro from Punisher Warzone with the comic panels and without any MCU designs or scenes and without the "Marvel Studios" logo which literally all their films have now.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

I know they had a Marvel Knights intro, but that was during the time that all movies based on Marvel properties still had the scrolling comic pages revealing the Marvel logo they've had since 2002 regardless of what studio made it.

Marvel Studios has specifically gone out of their way to distinguishing themselves from all that and have their own branding front and center by creating an intro that shows the MCU versions of the characters through key art and scenes from the movies, their own fanfare music, as well as having the logo say "Marvel Studios" rather than just "Marvel". There is no chance they're going to reuse the Marvel Knights intro from Punisher Warzone with the comic panels and without any MCU designs or scenes and without the "Marvel Studios" logo which literally all their films have now.

They're not gonna reuse the Marvel Knights intro completely, but having a monochrome intro with scenes from Dr. Strange, Moon Knight, Daredevil, Black Widow, with its own fanfare isn't that difficult to imagine. It would be similar but different enough to tell the audience they are in for a different kind of ride.

They made their own intro because all those other movies have sucked, and now they actually have film footage to use instead of general comics. Now that MS is a juggernaut it can easily branch itself into doing different things, and a Marvel Knights brand for edgier/darker stuff would be cool and the GA would probably love it.

 

[SirStrangefolk]

They're not gonna reuse the Marvel Knights intro completely, but having a monochrome intro with scenes from Dr. Strange, Moon Knight, Daredevil, Black Widow, with its own fanfare isn't that difficult to imagine. It would be similar but different enough to tell the audience they are in for a different kind of ride.

They made their own intro because all those other movies have sucked, and now they actually have film footage to use instead of general comics. Now that MS is a juggernaut it can easily branch itself into doing different things, and a Marvel Knights brand for edgier/darker stuff would be cool and the GA would probably love it.

Now you're just saying the same thing I said in my original post. That "Marvel Knights" would not be a separate branding from the MCU but would just have a slightly altered version of the current Marvel Studios intro to specify its contents. I'm not sure what you're disagreeing on.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

Now you're just saying the same thing I said in my original post. That "Marvel Knights" would not be a separate branding from the MCU but would just have a slightly altered version of the current Marvel Studios intro to specify its contents. I'm not sure what you're disagreeing on.

My bad I thought you were insinuating that they would never use a different intro than their current one. I do think having the "Knights" moniker stick would be a cool nod to the comics while differentiating it from the MCU ones now.

 

[psylockolussus]

I think Marvel Knights would still be MCU and wouldn't replace the MCU designation.
Rather "Knights" would be an additional label that specifies that it has darker content (similar to how say Coca-Cola Zero is not a separate branding from Coca-Cola but something that specifies how its contents might appeal to a different demographic).

I imagine it would have to be "Marvel Studios Knights" or something since right now there is the "Marvel Studios" logo and intro. Something like it shows the whole Marvel Studios intro as it is and then at the end has a short additional animation that adds "Knights" to the Marvel Studios logo or something.

it just sounds gimmicky to me.

Mcu already has darker content, so why even make a new branding? at the end of the day, its all Mcu / Marvel Studios.

 

[SirStrangefolk]

it just sounds gimmicky to me.

Mcu already has darker content, so why even make a new branding? at the end of the day, its all Mcu / Marvel Studios.

What darker content does the MCU (specifically official Marvel Studios MCU content) currently have?
It would be a sort of additional "parental advisory explicit content" label, since parents have come to expect MCU movies to be kid-friendly. Kind of similar to how Marvel comics had the MAX imprint as well.
If Marvel Studios made any movies or shows that were similar to the Marvel Television Netflix shows in content they could use it. And also for Deadpool 3.

 

[psylockolussus]

I just don't see the point of slapping a "Marvel Knights" logo, when its under the same universe as Ant-Man and Ms. Marvel.

If they want a very dark and R18 Marvel film, okay just show it in the trailers. They don't need to remind people its under the Marvel Knights brand/category that isn't targeted to kids. Heck the public won't even care about "Knights" as long as the film attracts to them.

 

[Batgirl0202]

Marvel Knights would be a cool way to distinguish the Netflix heroes from the larger MCU (DD, Electra, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, JJ, Daughters of the Dragon, Punisher).

Midnight Sons could encompass the more supernatural characters (Blade, Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, Hellstrom, Satana, Elsa Bloodstone, Brother Voodoo).

Save Doc Strange for Defenders and Scarlet Witch for X-Men

 

[Punisher_MAX]

I just don't see the point of slapping a "Marvel Knights" logo, when its under the same universe as Ant-Man and Ms. Marvel.

If they want a very dark and R18 Marvel film, okay just show it in the trailers. They don't need to remind people its under the Marvel Knights brand/category that isn't targeted to kids. Heck the public won't even care about "Knights" as long as the film attracts to them.

A ton of families took kids to see Deadpool cause it was a Marvel movie...

The Knights label also let's the viewer know it's not your typical MCU movie. Like people are complaining that the current DS2 is way more violent and darker than any MCU movie, they're actually complaining about it lol

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

They could do Marvel Knights. And id be into it. I like the darker stuff tbh.

But truthfully I'm more interested in Midnight Sons. For a few reasons.
1. I think the name flat out sounds cooler.
2. We already have Mar-Vell, Captain Marvel and The Marvels. How much more on the nose do we need to get?
3. The paranormal aspect is what I really want. So yes to Blade, Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, and Dr. Strange.Pit them against Chthon or Mephisto or whoever. But no need to wrap Punisher or Daredevil into that same crew.

By all means bring back Bernthal's punisher and cox's daredevil tho. Still all about that.

 

[psylockolussus]

A ton of families took kids to see Deadpool cause it was a Marvel movie...

The Knights label also let's the viewer know it's not your typical MCU movie. Like people are complaining that the current DS2 is way more violent and darker than any MCU movie, they're actually complaining about it lol

As if most people would know what Marvel Knights meant. They aren't going to care about the Marvel Knights labelling than the actual movie. Lol that.

People are going to see what they want to see. And kids aren't going to skip something even if its the darkest thing in the movie, if they want to watch. Not even an unneccessary Marvel.knights logo.... we don't even see the Marvel Cinematic Universe logo in any of the movies. Yeah good luck with that because it ain't happening.

 

[SirStrangefolk]

But truthfully I'm more interested in Midnight Sons. For a few reasons.
1. I think the name flat out sounds cooler.
2. We already have Mar-Vell, Captain Marvel and The Marvels. How much more on the nose do we need to get?
3. The paranormal aspect is what I really want. So yes to Blade, Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, and Dr. Strange.Pit them against Chthon or Mephisto or whoever. But no need to wrap Punisher or Daredevil into that same crew.

I think this thread is more about using Marvel Knights as a label or brand that encompasses all darker content, similar to different Marvel imprints like "Knights" and "MAX", rather than a specific teamup like Midnight Sons.
Like how the below comic for Inhumans is labeled as "Knights" and the one for Fury is labeled "MAX"

Spoiler

 

[Punisher_MAX]

The "Knights" label would also have the stories be separate from the main MCU timeliness so people don't need to pull out a tome to follow it.

 

[SirStrangefolk]

The "Knights" label would also have the stories be separate from the main MCU timeliness so people don't need to pull out a tome to follow it.

I agree that it cannot be completely integral to non-Knights movies. But also many people didn't watch WandaVision and still went to see MoM. And when Avengers released in 2012 the MCU and the concept of Cinematic Universes as a whole weren't as established yet so probably quite a few people didn't see Thor before Avengers and still enjoyed the latter. I think as long as you're aware not everyone has seen everything and have some kind of introduction/explanation for concepts or characters not everybody may be familiar with you can get away with using some stuff from Knights in non-Knights content.

Also interesting to consider: much as I was worried about the edited version of that Falcon & The Winter Soldier episode temporarily being up on D+, that happening could actually be an indication that Marvel is experimenting with (and might be willing to spend quite some resources on) making toned down versions of their more mature content. Like, they say they "accidentally" uploaded a version with most of the blood removed, a dead character's eyes being closed, a scene where someone gets impaled instead having the projectile just bounce off, etc. But why does that version even exist? Some VFX person had to put in the work to make those altered scenes and they aren't just simple cases of turning off a "layer" or something like that. Maybe Marvel Studios is actually thinking of making mature content and providing the choice between a mature cut and a toned down cut for younger audiences? Something similar to edits made to Deadpool 2 for Once Upon a Deadpool? I don't know, that seems like it would be quite costly. But maybe the precedent of Once Upon a Deadpool and the fact that they're clearly experimenting with alternate toned down scenes could indicate that is an option?