Marvel.com has confirmed that Moon Knight's Layla El-Faouly is the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Scarlet Scarab. While we initially thought that Marc Spector's wife had become an original superhero as Taweret's avatar, it turns out she is based on a relatively obscure character from the comic books.
On the page, Dr. Abdul Faoul was a member of The Invaders during World War II. A he rather than a she, the character took the protection of his homeland of Egypt seriously, using the Ruby Scarab to transform into the Scarlet Scarab, a being of god-like power that enables him to fight attackers. Marvel Studios is obviously putting its own spin on the hero through Layla, but it's a cool reinvention.
"I've read interviews [with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige] about how he's shaping Marvel Studios and taking it into a direction of really progressive thoughts and ideas," says consulting producer Sara Goher. "Marvel Studios is really pushing for that and really supportive about it. I think inside all of us, [these characters] are like your inner child dreaming."
Talking about the scene when the heroic Scarlet Scarab responds "I am" when a young girl asks if she's an Egyptian superhero, Goher says she believes that moment "is going to be a magical moment for lots of people around the world. It's great that Marvel is really at the helm of this movement on this scale to make sure that everyone feels like they belong."
May Calamawy is well aware of the pressure that comes with being a superhero, and just hopes to be a good role model to those who see her in action. "I had to really sit with it and be like, I cannot represent every Arab woman or every Egyptian woman. I just hope that all Arab women can watch that and feel like a superhero, and that they have that space on that big scale."
"I hope that the people who can relate to Layla feel seen and excited, and people who don't, that's OK. There's space for everyone. I'm just the first. There's many more that can come. It's an honor. It's an honor just to be able to represent or to be Middle Eastern, and shine a light on that region."
This clearly isn't the last we've seen of Scarlet Scarab in the MCU, and as she and Marc/Steven appear to have parted ways by the end of the finale, it seems like Layla will become a hero in her own right. We don't know when and where she'll show up next, but that's part of the fun, right?
What do you hope the future holds in store for Scarlet Scarab?