Marvel recently released the trailer of its upcoming show “Secret Invasion” with Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Don Cheadle as James Rhodes, Martin Freeman as Everett K Ross, Ben Mendelsohn as the Skrull Talos, and Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill. It will be Nick Fury’s first appearance since “Avengers: Endgame.” “Spider-Man: Far From Home” technically didn’t have Nick Fury as it was, in fact, Talos in disguise (we find this out in the mid-credits scene). The film also shows Fury inside a Skrull ship in space. Then again, at the end of “WandaVision,” we saw a Skrull approach Monica Rambeau. She had been sent by an “old friend” of her mother, Maria Rambeau. And, besides Captain Marvel, AKA Carol Danvers, the only person who knew her mother was Nick Fury. So, in “Secret Invasion,” wherever Nick Fury is, Monica Rambeau will be too, sooner or later. Conversely, if Nick Fury is back on Earth, Monica Rambeau should probably be with him as well.
In the comics, the “Secret Invasion” is an invasion of the Earth by the Skrulls over a period of years by posing as superheroes. The same will be shown in the 6-episode miniseries. But keeping in mind how, in the comics, the invasion occurred after the Kree-Skrull War, and Kevin Feige having teased that the Kree-Skrull War is not over, “Secret Invasion” will at least mention the Kree-Skrull War and hopefully show some of it too.
The beginning of the trailer shows Nick Fury arriving on Earth after many years (according to Maria Hill). His eye patch is gone, so he is no longer the Nick Fury we remember. He has come to Earth for a reason. He asks Rhodes about his security detail, which again leads us to think that Rhodes’ security detail might be compromised (by Skrulls, or Krees, perhaps). CIA agent Everett K. Ross is back along with three new characters of special mention, played by Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, and Kingsley Ben-Adir. Based on reports and a leaked set video from 2021 showing her in a motion-capture suit, Emilia might be playing a Skrull too. According to industry insider Daniel Richtman, she will play a Skrull character called G’iah. In the comics, while she assisted in invading other planets, she eventually changed sides after seeing the extent of the brutality that the Skrulls were willing to enforce to achieve their goals. The same could be the case in the show as well. This will make her an important character even in the Kree-Skrull war scenario.
As for Colman, she is rumored to play Falsworth, AKA Union Jack. In the comics, three people took up the Union Jack mantle, namely James Montgomery Falsworth, Brian Falsworth, and Joseph Chapman, and in that order. We have already seen James Montgomery Falsworth in “Captain America: The First Avenger.” The character was played by J. J. Feild was one of the commandos in Captain America’s squad. His son, Brian Falsworth, took up the Union Jack mantle. And after Brian’s death, Joseph Chapman became the third and is the current Union Jack in the comics. Colman will portray a female version of the Falsworth character, and she might be a descendant of Brian Falsworth. Or she can also be a female Chapman, which would make sense, too, since Joseph Chapman had fought against the Skrulls in the “Secret Invasion” storyline.
Kingsley Ben-Adir has been confirmed by the studio following the 2022 D23 Fan Expo as Rebel Skrull leader Gravik. It is a new character that doesn’t have any history in the comics. So as of now, his intent, made clear via the word “rebel,” is an invasion of Earth. He will probably come face to face with Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos as he is now on the side of humans after the events of “Captain Marvel.” Towards the end of the trailer, Olivia Colman’s character warns Fury that he is in “no shape” for the fight that’s about to come their way. But Fury knows it is his war “alone” and that he is the last person standing between them (Skrulls) and what they really want. We do not know what “they” really want, but we can only assume that it is the “Secret Invasion” on Earth.
The show will be mature and dark, tending more towards “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” Keeping in mind that Fury has been with the Skrulls all this time, his return to Earth will be the result of him finding out a “secret” aboard the ship he is on. Also, we must not forget Monica Rambeau, who has powers of her own, thanks to Wanda, and is on her way to Fury. We have to wait to find out how things work out for them. We can also expect Carol Danvers to show up at some point. We last saw her at the end of “Ms. Marvel,” where she swaps places with Kamal Khan. Be that as it may, numerous characters will be introduced and brought back as well, and the series will definitely kick-start a new storyline, one that will affect the future of the MCU.
“Secret Invasion” will be streaming on Disney+ Hotstar from 2023. It stars Emilia Clarke, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Olivia Colman, and Don Cheadle.
