Sorry Doctor Strange, But The MCU's Real Horror Story Arrived 4 Years Ago

Although Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was marketed as the first horror story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the truth is that the real horror story arrived a couple of months after it. Throughout almost 20 years of movies and TV shows, the MCU has explored different genres, mostly drama and comedy, all while developing the stories of some of Marvel Comics’ most notable superheroes, allies, and villains.

While the MCU has had various scenes that can fall into the horror genre, such as the zombie one in Spider-Man: Far From Home, it wasn’t until the Multiverse Saga arrived that the MCU was more open to including horror. For Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) second solo movie (which, like many others in the Multiverse Saga, wasn’t really a “solo” adventure), Marvel went on a darker route, with the movie described as the MCU’s first horror one.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was originally going to be directed by Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson, best known for his horror work in movies like Sinister and Deliver Us From Evil, but Sam Raimi took over the project. While Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness does have more horror elements than previous MCU movies, it isn’t really this universe’s first horror project, and the real one arrived a couple of months later on Disney+: Werewolf by Night.

Werewolf by Night Is The MCU’s Only True Horror Project To Date

In October 2022, Disney+ released Werewolf by Night, a TV special directed by Michael Giacchino. Werewolf by Night is the MCU’s first Special Presentation, and it’s part of the continuity of the rest of this universe’s movies and TV shows. Werewolf by Night, then, introduces Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal), a monster hunter who is summoned by the widow of Ulysses Bloodstone, Verussa (Harriet Sansom), along with other monster hunters to participate in a special hunt at Bloodstone Manor.

Whoever wins will wield the powerful Bloodstone and be the new leader, and the hunt consists of finding a captured monster in a large maze who has been implanted with the Bloodstone. However, Russell isn’t just a monster hunter, as he’s also a monster himself, and due to a curse, he turns into a werewolf. Werewolf by Night is only 53 minutes long, but that was enough to introduce new and intriguing characters, feature exciting action scenes, and fully go into horror.

In addition to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, shows like Moon Knight and WandaVision featured some horror elements without fully going into the genre. Werewolf by Night is horror from beginning to end, with a main character who takes the form of a classic monster but has his own story. Werewolf by Night was also the debut of Man-Thing, a swamp monster and friend of Russell.

Werewolf by Night has some clear inspirations from classic horror movies and characters but without trying to copy them, instead blending those inspirations with the world of Marvel while staying true to the horror genre. Werewolf by Night proved that horror can work in the MCU if done right – and that means being consistent with its horror elements, taking risks, and bringing characters that fit the tone and bring new stories into the MCU.

Will Werewolf by Night Ever Return In The MCU?

Unfortunately, although Jack Russell is one of the most fascinating characters that the MCU's TV side has introduced, he has had the same fate as many others. Werewolf by Night has been Jack Russell's only MCU appearance so far, and aside from a subtle and casual mention of his past in VisionQuest, he hasn't been mentioned, referenced, or hinted at in other shows or movies.

Werewolf by Night was a big enough success for the MCU to give it some sort of continuation or, at least, for Jack Russell to return in some other TV show or movie. Back in 2022, co-executive producer Brian Gay shared that Werewolf by Night would be the beginning of the MCU’s exploration of monsters, but to this day, this hasn’t happened. However, in July 2026, Giacchino revealed there had been talks about a sequel, but there haven’t been any updates on it since then.

It could be possible that the events of Avengers: Secret Wars will make way for a wider variety of MCU characters, finally bringing more monsters into this universe, including the long-awaited return of Jack Russell. Until then, Werewolf by Night holds the title of the MCU’s first real horror story.