Ethan Hawke has a reputation for being pretty chill, and that reputation holds up. When The Hollywood Reporter asked him about the uncertain future of the Marvel show Moon Knight, he did not exactly roll his eyes, but he did admit he was surprised by how the whole thing turned out.
The actor said he was “kind of surprised” by the news that any further appearances for Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight and the villainous Arthur Harrow were kaput, at least for now. But he quickly added that the streamlining of Marvel’s TV slate doesn’t bother him because playing the heavy in a superhero show has never been his bread and butter anyway.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” Hawke said. “I never had a big agenda about being in that universe. My reason to do that show was largely built on my friendship with Oscar. He’s a really thrilling actor. I like the way he thinks, and he really wanted a good villain for that show.”
Hawke’s Game
Hawke explained that the appeal of joining Moon Knight was simple: it was a chance to work with a friend, and it came with some extra money and security to go with it. That’s a pretty honest way to explain a career move.
The show’s star, Oscar Isaac, is a “really thrilling actor,” Hawke said, and he wanted to be a part of something his friend had built. The part of Arthur Harrow was also a draw, because he wanted to play in a sandbox that everybody was watching.
“I was also interested in playing in the sandbox that everybody was watching,” Hawke said. “Part of being an artist is you have to make relevant art. You have to be in dialogue and in concert with your time. Marvel has owned a chapter of cinema history, so I enjoyed being a part of it.”
Where the Bread Is Buttered
Hawke’s Zen shrug at Marvel’s belt-tightening is the kind of thing that has kept him working for decades. He said he has landed exactly where he is “supposed to be,” and he has not really thought about the fact that his Marvel future wrapped up with a single-season commitment instead of being “a hotbed of employment.”
“None of us can exactly see the future,” Hawke told THR. “The future hasn’t gone the way that I thought it would in that regard, but that’s never been my bread and butter anyway. That’s not really what I do.”
Knowing where his bread is buttered has led him to star in FX’s comic crime drama The Lowdown, which returns for its second season on October 14. He also cited his recent turn in the buzzy period drama The Weight when speaking with the publication.
The Explanation
Hawke’s priorities are simple. He plays for the craft, for the friendship, and for the audience, and he moves on when the gig ends.
| Role | Motive | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Moon Knight villain | Friendship with Oscar Isaac, pay the bills | One season, then kaput |
| The Lowdown | Creative pull, ongoing work | Second season returning October 14 |
| The Weight | Recent work | Period drama |
The table shows how Hawke’s priorities have shifted, and how he has embraced the work that suits him rather than chasing a particular universe.
The Verdict
Hawke’s attitude is one of the more refreshing things to come out of Hollywood in a while. He is not pretending that the streamlining of Marvel’s TV slate is a tragedy, and he is not trying to spin it into a victory. He is just shrugging, playing it cool, and getting back to the work that matters to him.
The Zen shrug is the point, and it is the whole point. He has not ruffled a single feather, and he has not wasted a breath on disappointment. He played for Oscar, he played for the audience, and now he is moving on.
The future of Arthur Harrow is kaput. Ethan Hawke’s career is not.
See the video the story is built around at The A.V. Club.
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