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Professor Dane Whitman is a scientist and a historian at London's Natural History Museum, who is the heir of an ancient and mysterious family. Whitman started a romantic relationship with Sersi, who turned out to be an Eternal. When he learned of the impending Emergence, he was encouraged by Sersi to make amends with his uncle, leading him to investigate his family's history once more. After Sersi's abduction from Earth by Arishem the Judge, Whitman fell into the possession of the Ebony Blade.
Dane Whitman was born in England in the late 20th century to a family that owned a magical sword known as the Ebony Blade and, by Whitman's admission, had a complicated history. As a child, he wished to be a giraffe. Whitman had a falling out with his uncle, Nathan Garrett, and the two became estranged.[1]
Relationship with Sersi[]
Whitman went to college and got a degree to become a teacher and historian. He then met Sersi and Sprite, becoming close to the both of them. Whitman formed a romantic relationship with Sersi, but was often confused by Sprite, who kept saying weird things. In 2018, Whitman survived the Snap.[1]
In 2024, following the Blip, Whitman worked at the Natural History Museum. One day, Sersi was late for her class, so Whitman was forced to substitute for her. Whitman rambled on about what he believed was supposed to be taught until Sersi finally arrived. Whitman announced that she was there before whispering to her how the kids scare him. She thanked him, saying that they would see each other that night. A student then teased them for that comment.[1]
Whitman then walked to the gallery, saying hello to Terry. He then saw Sprite and told her that Sersi was teaching. Sprite started claiming stuff about the fossils. She called a smilodon head a Deviant as well as claiming that they did not get Thena's likeness right in her sculpture. Whitman corrected her, saying it was "A-thena," but Sprite still claimed there was no A.
Sprite said that Thena's spear was made of cosmic energy, so Whitman teased her asking what Sprite's power was. Sprite casually claimed she could make illusion before talking about concepts like stories and illusions, saying she taught everyone stories. Whitman applauded Sprite for her knowledge, and she said she was older than he thought. Sprite then brought up how Whitman asked Sersi to move in with him. She then said that Sersi was not over her ex-boyfriend despite breaking up with him a century ago and he could fly. Whitman assured Sprite that he would not take Sersi away from her. Suddenly, there was an earthquake.[3]
"Look, if you don't want to move in with me, you could just say." "Dane, this is serious." "I know. I'm just still getting over the fact you're not a wizard."
That night, Whitman and Sersi met up to celebrate his birthday at a bar. He received a ring with his family's crest from Sersi, commenting on how expensive it must have been. He also offered for Sersi to move in with him; however, she declined his offer. He then revealed the weird things Sprite said to him while she was not around, leading him to finally confront Sersi on whether or not she was like Doctor Strange, which Sersi laughed at.[1]
As Whitman, Sersi, and Sprite were walking home, they were attacked by a Deviant, with them originally running away from. Eventually, Whitman helped people get off the bridge as Sprite created illusions and Sersi changed the bus flying at them to petals, to which Whitman picked up and looked at in disbelief. Ikaris arrived just in time to save them.
After the Deviant left, Whitman awkwardly introduced himself to Ikaris, with him realizing that Ikaris was Sersi's ex. Afterwards, Whitman asked Sersi to explain everything about the Eternals to him. He questioned why they never interfered throughout history or more recently with Thanos and the Infinity War.[1]
Later, Whitman called Sersi via video call. However, the phone connection was not the best and so they were breaking up, which Sersi commented on with Ikaris making a happy comment on, thinking they were actually breaking up.[1]
Later, Whitman was reunited with Sersi as she said goodbye to Kingo and Sprite. He and Sersi then walk and talk about the recent events. He listened as Sersi talked about her inability to live like she was human. He also made her remember their vow to keep no more secrets with, as he struggled to tell her the truth about his family history which he had recently learned. However, when Arishem the Judge appeared in the sky, Whitman became frightened and watched in shock as Sersi was transported off of Earth.[1]
Afterwards, Whitman set off to the museum to get ready to finally accept and wield the Ebony Blade, stopping after hearing a voice asking him, if he's really ready for it.[4]
Personality[]
Whitman is incredibly accepting of other people, with him quickly accepting the fact that Sersi was an Eternal. He is also shown to be struggling with his family legacy and heritage. Whitman is a kind and caring person, for he told people to get off the bridge during Kro's attack.
Abilities[]
Expert Scientist: Whitman is a skilled historian and teacher, as he was seen briefly teaching the students in Sersi's class.
Bilingualism: Whitman is fluent in his native English, as well as Latin.
Equipment[]
Weapons[]
Ebony Blade: The Ebony Blade was passed down through generations of Whitman's family, and he came across the sword while investigating his family's history. He was about to use it, but stopped when Blade appeared.
In the comics, Dane Whitman is the latest descendant in a long line of warriors possessing the mystical Ebony Blade and title of Black Knight. Whitman rode multiple winged horses and was the first owner of Warsong, whom he gifted to Valkyrie.
There was also an alternate version of Black Knight who went by the name Proctor. Proctor met and fell in love with Sersi, forming a psychic link with her, but Sersi later left Proctor. He used his link to Sersi to drive her insane and lead her to destroy their reality before killing her. He then set out on a multiversal quest to kill every universe's Sersi.
Behind the Scenes[]
According to Jeremy Slater, there were discussions about including Kit Harington reprising his role as Dane Whitman in Moon Knight due to his role as a Natural History Museum historian opening the possibility of him meeting Steven Grant, with the possibility of having Whitman adopt his Black Knight title from the comic books, but the idea was dropped because the writers felt there wasn't enough time to include Whitman in the first twoepisodes to justify integrating Black Knight in the storyline.[5]
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