If Taskmaster survives the events of Ms. Marvel, the series will be based around a new MCU character, as opposed to the other shows which focus on returning heroes from past movies.
Aside from simply being set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, how Moon Knight will be connected to other Marvel movies remains to be seen, but it could pull in established MCU characters, such as Taskmaster, an accomplished supervillain and mercenary who has gone up against everyone from Captain America to Deadpool in the comics. The character has a reputation for taking all sorts of dangerous jobs for money, irrespective of who he’ll have to fight to see the mission through. His arsenal of weapons and particular skill set makes him a challenge for most superheroes, even those who outclass him in physical strength, such as Spider-Man.
Taskmaster will be brought to life on the big screen for the first time in Marvel’s Black Widow movie, which will take place between Taskmaster's true identity is a closely-guarded secret, and even at this stage, there’s no confirmation on which actor is playing him in Black Widow. Regardless, it does appear that the character is the film’s main antagonist. This could be his first and only role in the MCU, but it’s possible that Marvel has plans for him that extend beyond Black Widow.
Taskmaster’s History With Moon Knight In Marvel Comics Explained
What makes Taskmaster so dangerous in Marvel Comics is his superpower, which allows him to perfectly mimic any talent or skill he observes, whether it's Black Knight’s swordsmanship, Hawkeye’s archery, or Spider-Man’s web-slinging. Among the heroes who have clashed with Taskmaster in his long career as a villain is Moon Knight. The two crossed paths in the mid-2000s around the time of the “Civil War” arc. During this time, Taskmaster worked as an instructor at a school where he could teach aspiring villains how to fight, though there were times when he would be contracted to do a job. After being ed by a mysterious group of rich businessmen called the Committee, he was paid to kill Moon Knight, whom he was led to believe was an easy target.
Their first fight was short and inconclusive, but in their second meeting, Moon Knight was able to get the best of Taskmaster, who was shocked and even horrified when he realized what kind of fighter of Moon Knight was. With all his skills, Taskmaster initially seemed superior to him in combat, but Moon Knight’s unorthodox approach to fighting is what gave him the win. Instead of blocking or dodging, he took all of Taskmaster’s attacks head-on and proceeded to launch a counterattack. Despite all the damage that was done to Moon Knight in the fight, he still won in the end. This sort of attitude of his contributes a lot to why other characters in Marvel Comics view him as crazy, unhinged, and unpredictable. Taskmaster has since stated that Moon Knight is one hero whose moves he won’t copy, specifically because of his reckless fighting style.
How Taskmaster Can Survive Black Widow
Though some may expect Taskmaster to meet his end in his final battle with Natasha in Black Widow and the MCU's heroes often kill their nemeses, he wouldn’t be the first main villain of a Marvel movie to lose but also live to see another day. There are plenty of ways Marvel could use to keep him around. For instance, Black Widow could purposely avoid killing him and incapacitate him instead. In the aftermath, Taskmaster could be apprehended by the authorities and placed in prison. An escape from captivity could easily be arranged later. Or, their fight can end in a way that leaves Taskmaster’s fate up in the air. One way that can work is if he falls a great height and the body is never recovered. A third option is that a twist reveals him not to be the main villain. If that were to happen, he could escape during Black Widow’s fight with her true adversary. Either way, Taskmaster doesn’t have to be a one-and-done character in the MCU. There are more stories that Marvel can tell with him.
Taskmaster Could Return In Marvel’s Moon Knight Show
If Marvel keeps Taskmaster, they could find another use for him in Moon Knight, which is expected to release sometime in 2022. Since the current setting of the MCU in of the timeline is 2023, Moon Knight will take place around six years after Taskmaster’s encounter with Black Widow. A role in Moon Knight could explore what he’s been doing since then. Assuming that the MCU’s version of the character is an assassin or a mercenary like his comic counterpart – and based on trailers that does seem to be the case – a professional killer like Taskmaster would fit well into the dark world of Moon Knight.
Also, Moon Knight’s alter ego, Marc Spector is a mercenary in his own right. With this in mind, it’s possible that he and Taskmaster actually know each other. Flashbacks could shed some light on their history. He may even know the man (or woman) that’s under the mask. The Disney+ series could pit mercenary against mercenary if Taskmaster is hired to bring in the Crescent Crusader. His inclusion would certainly lead to an interesting matchup, and the idea of Marvel using an established MCU villain as one of Moon Knight’s first opponents (just as the Falcon And The Winter Soldier is with Zemo) could add interest to the series. The show may need the presence of a familiar character for the connection to the MCU to feel real to viewers.
Taskmaster is a better choice for that than other MCU villains, partly because he can demonstrate how unique Moon Knight really is. By the time the new series releases, viewers will be aware of Taskmaster’s ability to copy moves, but seeing him actively avoid mimicking his enemy’s fighting style will make it clear that Moon Knight is an unconventional superhero. An adaptation in Moon Knight of their fight in the comics when Moon Knight came off as crazy during his heedless attack on Taskmaster would help convey the idea that he’s unlike any other hero currently in the MCU.
