Halloween is just around the corner, so I watched Marvel’s Werewolf by Night to get in the spirit. Instead of a typical superhero-packed special, I got an hour of homages to classic horror stories, a bada*s female lead, and (hopefully) a glimpse into the MCU’s future. It’s so good and you should def watch, but I did have a few questions that needed answers, so I chatted with screenwriter and co-producer Heather Quinn (she/her) to see what inspired her to write something fresh for the franchise. Warning: Spoilers ahead!

“Genre-wise, we were referencing a mash-up of old monster movies, especially the Universal Classic monster movies, and that played into the tone of the script in many ways,” says Quinn. “However, for story and character, [director] Michael [Giacchino] and I were actually pulling from a wide amalgamation of references, some of which weren’t necessarily scary stories. For instance, for Jack and Ted’s relationship, as well as the reveal of Ted, we looked at several Spielberg movies, including Jaws and E.T.”

Now, the idea of the MCU incorporating folklore, urban legends, and Greek and Egyptian mythology brings out the literary and history nerd in me. We’ve already seen the introduction of gods/goddesses in the latest Thor movie and in shows like Moon Knight, plus the confirmation of vampire slayers aka Blade. Oh! And let’s not forget Marvel’s making up their own mythology, too (with Eternals). Quinn loves it just as much and wants to see even more of this stuff, particularly when it’s women causing the chaos.

“Women doing evil of any kind is always a delight to me. Especially if the women are funny, I enjoy their evil even more. I suppose that says a lot about me and maybe I should strike this from the record, but alas, it’s the truth,” she says. “Beyond that, I get excited about the MCU continuing to introduce ideas that people may assume they know are either good or evil—and then subverting those preconceived notions with unexpected depictions.” (I’m looking at you, Scarlet Witch.)

Speaking of women wreaking havoc (my fav film trope), that’s exactly what I saw from newcomer Elsa Bloodstone. She’s bringing a bit of black-and-white blood and gore, but it’s necessary, I promise. (It’s also something not usually shown in Marvel productions.) When asked about bringing Elsa and other underrepresented comic characters to life on top of diving into uncharted territory, Quinn said, “With Werewolf by Night, we had a completely blank slate, which was both a huge honor and responsibility. We were introducing 3 new characters as well as an entire new corner of the universe that includes monsters and an implied history behind all this. We only get a few lines to show you who Elsa and Jack are—and in those few lines, we need you to love them. We only get a few glimpses to show you Ted and need you to love him but—well, that one’s easy because who doesn’t love Ted?!”

So true! Ted is one hell of a lovable monster. With the addition of these more complex characters, stories, and themes, my last burning Q is: What does this mean for the future of the MCU? Unfortunately, not even Heather Quinn knows the answer. (And if you’re wondering if this special feature fits into a certain timeline, she doesn’t know that either.)

And as for the return of Elsa Bloodstone? “I don’t know what the future holds for Elsa,” admits Quinn. “But I was so honored and thrilled to get to introduce her to the MCU, and it’s hard for me to even describe how much I love how Laura Donnelly brought her to life. Elsa is such a strong, cheeky character and her armor doesn’t come down often, but the few small windows Laura gives us into Elsa’s pain and vulnerability are just sublime. I certainly hope there’s a big bright (or hell, dark) future waiting for her in the MCU.”

Your fav superhero geek,
Chloe Trout, associate editor