Werewolf by Night was an instant classic, which hit the MCU like a jump-scare, and many have wondered if the film would set up Marvel’s Midnight Sons. The Disney+ special gave us a look at several new characters coming to the MCU, some of whom have been members in the past. The Midnight Sons are traditionally a group of Marvel superheroes with “a taste of damnation.” Everyone in the movie looks like they’re a little damned. If we saw them survive the events of Werewolf by Night, it’s possible we might see a few of them again in the future.

Werewolf by Night seemed to set up an exciting future for the darker side of the MCU. Along with projects like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Moon Knight, it seemed like the MCU was building towards a supernatural team of heroes like The Midnight Sons, now sometimes renamed the Midnight Suns to be more gender inclusive. Yet with Blade having been delayed so many times, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries being renamed and reworked so many times, and the overall news of Marvel Studios scaling back, it is unclear if the Midnight Sons are coming. Yet Werewolf by Night could not only be the first part in this team's chapter, but the character could be the team's leader.

Update October 25, 2023: Following the release of Werewolf by Night in Color, this article has been updated with recent news regarding the future of the MCU moving forward.

Werewolf by Night Could Plant the Seeds of the Midnight Sons

The Midnight Sons were originally a group of nine heroes (anti-heroes, really) brought together by Doctor Strange to combat Lilith, the dark mother of demons. Lilith had been sending her many children (the Lilin) out to do harm to the world, and many of these super-powered folks Doctor Strange gathered had come in contact with the Lilin at one point or another.

The members of this group were Blade, Morbius, Ghost Rider (Daniel Ketch), Johnny Blaze (who was human at the time but still had a Hellcycle), Frank Drake (a student of Van Helsing), Hannibal King (a vampire hunter; Ryan Reynolds played him in Blade: Trinity), Louise Hastings (a professor studying the Darkhold), Victoria Montesi (conceived by the power of the Darkhold), and Sam Buchanan (an Interpol agent assigned to protect Montesi). The group united to defeat Lilith above the Arctic Circle, under the midnight sun.

The Werewolf by Night special laid some interesting lore down that the MCU could expand upon in recent years. It appears that the supernatural world of monsters exists in the shadows, one that the heroes of the MCU, like The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy, are unaware of. There is an entire society of hunters that look to destroy and harm monsters.

This is where Werewolf by Night comes in. He seems to be a monster protector, helping those in need. He not only has crossed paths with Man-Thing but also with Elsa Bloodstone, daughter of famed monster hunter Ulysses Bloodstone. The Bloodstone appears to be an ancient magical artifact that can weaken or release monsters. There is also the Darkhold, which was introduced in WandaVision and expanded upon in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. More ancient dark magical artifacts are popping up in the MCU, and it appears monsters like Werewolf by Night won't be able to hide themselves for much longer and will soon cross paths with one another, as well as the other heroes of the MCU.

Who Could Be The Midnight Sons

Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing, and Elsa Bloodstone seem to be obvious choices, given their shared introduction and connection established in the Halloween special. Moon Knight has a long history with Werewolf by Night in the comics, so it would be appropriate for him to be part of the team.

Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch are both off the table, it appears, so Agatha Harkness might fill the role as the team's resident witch and magic user. Blade is set to get his own film and would certainly be a major focal point for the team, given his popularity. While not introduced yet in the MCU, it would seem odd to have the Midnight Sons without Ghost Rider. He seems set to make an appearance, the question just is when will he and which form will the Spirit of Vengeance take?

Werewolf by Night Could Lead the Midnight Sons

Doctor Strange seems most concerned with the Darkhold of any MCU character, and he was the hero in the comics to assemble the Midnight Sons. Yet, with him going off with Clea to save the Multiverse, a new hero will be needed to assemble the team: Enter Werewolf by Night.

Werewolf by Night is a reluctant leader but has the makings of a great leader. He embraces his humanity, looking to help others. This same sense of moral certainty is what has made Captain America such a great leader for The Avengers. He also has connections to Elsa Bloodstone and Man-Thing, so he brings with him two members to the team who would likely trust him over newcomers like Moon Knight, Blade, or Ghost Rider.

While names like Blade or Ghost Rider might step out more as leaders due to popularity, it is Werewolf by Night who seems to have not only a great amount of knowledge about monsters but the biggest heart. The drama of having a man who could be the most uncontrollable member of the Midnight Sons be the leader is compelling. He can lead the team, and they would trust him, while he also trusts them to hold his more animalistic monster at bay if need be.

Where Do Things Go From Here?

While things were looking positive for Marvel's supernatural characters initially, things took a turn for the worse for a plethora of reasons. As mentioned before, Blade has been delayed countless times, most recently because of the SAG-AFTRA strike; Moon Knight season two still has no confirmation, and it is leaving us wondering whether a follow-up was ever in the cards in the first place. Ghost Rider has not been mentioned in a very long time.

Maybe Marvel's focus for right now is their best bet, which is The Fantastic Four. Fantastic Four is a more prominent name than the Midnight Sons, and they probably don't want to debut another new group alongside the Young Avengers, so their spotlight is not stolen. All the buildup and hype appear to be going to the Fantastic Four now. Still, it does not seem like supernatural forces were introduced for no reason. Marvel hardly ever plants these types of seeds to no avail. It is simply looking like it will take things longer to grow than we thought.