Avengers MARVEL Movies Secret Invasion Thunderbolts

The MCU's Phase 5 Bombshell Means Its Avengers Replacement Makes Way More Sense

The MCU's Phase 5 Bombshell Means Its Avengers Replacement Makes Way More Sense

Phase 5's most recent bombshell from Secret Invasion better explains the Avengers' upcoming replacements in Phase 5. Following the reveal of a problematic secret project overseen by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), it follows that world governments may be reluctant to rely on superheroes as much as they have in the MCU. As such, Secret Invasion could very well serve as yet another stepping stone toward the imminent debut of Marvel's Thunderbolts.

Following a significant alien infiltration within major seats of power and various institutions (including the White House), the threat of the Skrulls was made public thanks to current US President Ritson effectively declaring war on all extraterrestrials living on Earth. With both the United States and Russia nearly engaging in nuclear warfare thanks to the Skrulls, the fallout of Secret Invasion may lead to the creation of the Thunderbolts, especially after Fury's secret DNA project.

The Thunderbolts' Limited Power Level Makes Sense After The Harvest


As confirmed in the final episodes of Secret Invasion, Nick Fury ordered Skrulls to collect the DNA of almost every powered Avenger present during Endgame's final battle. Known as The Harvest, the secret and ethically questionable project motivated the Skrull general Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir) to begin his Super-Skrull experiments to give himself brand-new powers in his desire to claim Earth for his people, no longer content to wait on Fury's unkept promises to find them a new home after 30 years. At the moment, Fury's very problematic project is still secret (though there would likely be major consequences when/if it does).

If knowledge of Fury's Harvest ever gets out in the MCU, governments may be more apprehensive toward superhumans and their powers in general. This would certainly explain why the confirmed team of Thunderbolts thus far is very limited in their superpowers compared to the original Avengers. With some having already been recruited by the CIA's Valentina Allegra de Fontaine or soon will, it's been implied that the Thunderbolts will be a government-sanctioned team (regardless of how public they'll be).

Secret Invasion Made A US And Russia Team-Up More Likely


Overall, the Thunderbolts' roster in the MCU is a mix of US and Russian operatives. Bucky Barnes was an American Howling Commando during WWII turned into a living weapon under the control of Hydra's agents within the Soviet Armed Forces. Ghost did black-ops stealth missions for SHIELD. U.S.Agent was the government's new Captain America before his recruitment by Val following his public discharge. Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, and Taskmaster were all part of the Red Room program with connections to Russia's General Dreykov.

This particular selection of agents may stem from the recent fallout caused by the Skrulls in Secret Invasion. Considering Russia and the US were the two countries who were manipulated the hardest, it may explain why the Thunderbolts roster has so many US and Russian agents on it (while also having more limited superpowers). The Thunderbolts could be assembled by Val as a joint response between the two nations in the MCU with the events of Secret Invasion certainly adding to the ongoing geopolitical turmoil that's been happening in recent MCU projects.
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Secret Invasion's Finale Set Up TWO Upcoming MCU Movies, Confirms Director

Secret Invasion's Finale Set Up TWO Upcoming MCU Movies, Confirms Director


Secret Invasion director Ali Selim re-emphasized that the Disney+ series set up two future Marvel Studios movies.

The finale of Disney+'s latest MCU series gave fans plenty of answers but also set up future projects, possibly to the demise of the show's quality.

Secret Invasion is one of the worst-reviewed projects ever within the MCU, but much like other projects within the cinematic universe, there's always another story on the horizon.

Ali Selim Confirms Secret Invasion Sets Up Two MCU Films


During a recent interview with Screen Rant, Secret Invasion director Ali Selim discussed the "requirements" he was given to set up in the MCU. 

In particular, he was told to "make sure that Rhodey's legs don't work for Armor Wars:"

"I was given some requirements for the next movie. You have to put Nick Fury up in space. For the next beat, you have to make sure that Rhodey's legs don't work for 'Armor Wars.'"

Armor Wars was previously set to be a Disney+ series, before being upgraded to a theatrically released film starring Don Cheadle's War Machine.

In an interview with ComicBook, Selim mentioned the idea that some of the questions about when James Rhodes was replaced with Skrull could be answered in Armor Wars.

The other MCU movie that Selim has teased as a direct connection from Secret Invasion is The Marvels. Many fans assumed this connection with the presence of Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury being featured in The Marvels trailers.

Selim mentioned in an interview with EW that his "job is to tell this story (Secret Invasion) within this box" but he felt they "did a pretty good job of launching Nick Fury" into The Marvels:

"I mean, my job is to tell this story within this box, within these six episodes. I do my best not to confuse myself or the audience with things outside the box. But there are also moments where Nick Fury needs to end up here, so the next film he is in works. I think we did a pretty good job of launching Nick Fury."

Before being delayed to November 10, The Marvels previously was set to release on July 28, just two days after the Secret Invasion finale was released on streaming.

When asked by The Hollywood Reporter, Selim confirmed that there is a conversation regarding where certain characters need to end up by the end of Secret Invasion.

The director mentioned that they "write into that" and that those universe-connecting decisions are "all above [his] pay grade:"

"The answer is yes, but they’re not protracted conversations. It’s just simply, 'Where do you need him? You need him here? Great.' And then we write into that. So that kind of stuff is very simple because it’s all above my pay grade."

Does Marvel Have a Cinematic Universe Problem?

Phase 5 is off to a rocky start in terms of setting the stage for an eventual two-part Avengers story through Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars.

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania starred Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, the antagonist set up as the biggest and the baddest of the entire Multiverse Saga.

Even before the arrest and legal troubles of Majors, people were left with mixed feelings about Ant-Man 3, many complaining of the fact that it felt like more of a setup for future films, than telling its own story.

While James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a beautiful example of being a part of the larger universe, focusing on its own story and characters, Secret Invasion felt reliant on being within the MCU.

The Marvels and Armors Wars could end up being fantastic films, but will Secret Invasion be retroactively enhanced because of them? No matter the answer, it won't really matter. 

The connective tissue of the MCU has always been something that drew audiences in, but is there a chance that it's becoming more of a crutch, rather than a strength?

Secret Invasion is now streaming on Disney+.
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Marvel's mistakes in Phase 5 Worse Than Ever in the MCU Timeline (But We Fixed It)

Marvel's mistakes in Phase 5 Worse Than Ever in the MCU Timeline (But We Fixed It)

The MCU has timeline problems, but Marvel's Phase 5 introduced the worst timeline botch since Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man cockily kicked off Kevin Feige's sprawling franchise. Some of those problems are somewhat inevitable: after 40 releases, the level of continuity homework is beyond the capability of any creative team, so it makes sense that some things slip. That is exacerbated when you bring in things like Avengers: Endgame's 5 year time jump, MCU post-credits scenes seemingly appearing out of linear order, and Marvel's more recent attempts to avoid outright stating within releases when their events are actually happening.

It's almost like the very idea of a huge shared universe consolidating every single character in existence while also bringing in as slippery a concept as the multiverse is a challenging one. But really, Marvel Studios should be commended for the unprecedented success with which the so-called Sacred Timeline has been marshaled. With so many interlocking stories, Marvel retconning stories like Endgame to service other emerging stories is mostly accepted by the audience, and we're now so far away from the MCU's point of origin that keeping track of the minutiae is only important to the most engaged element of that audience. Everyone else just wants the story to make sense, which is why Secret Invasion's timeline mistake is Marvel's worst in years.

Related:
Secret Invasion Director Confirms Fan Speculation


Why Secret Invasion Was Disney+'s Perfect Post-Endgame Opener


Marvel released Secret Invasion at the wrong time. Everything about Secret Invasion places it as Endgame's epilogue, right down to it introducing Endgame's missing post-credits scene with the Avengers DNA Harvest reveal. The Disney+ miniseries repeatedly examines Nick Fury through the filter of his Blip experience, going to great lengths to suggest he is not the man he once was because of the 5 years he missed after Thanos snapped his fingers in Infinity War. And then with the introduction of the Avengers DNA storyline, Secret Invasion irrefutably ties itself to Endgame's events while failing to offer an excuse for why it instead came out 4 years later.

Related:
Secret Invasion Director Talks Making an Ending With 'Guts'

Even on a philosophical level, Secret Invasion's attempted musings on the very idea of the Avengers - which Nick Fury challenges in a confusing deconstruction that suggests that Earth should stop over-relying on heroes - fit far better if you've just watched Endgame. After all, Fury had just watched his supposed friend Tony Stark sacrifice himself, finally revealing the true cost of superheroism, and perhaps giving Fury a reason to question the morality of superhero dependence. In that context, it feels less like Fury is challenging the Avengers as Earth's defenders and instead examining his own part in placing the weight of the entire world on their shoulders. Given Secret Invasion reveals Fury did that same thing to the Skrulls, the recontextualization is a far more elegant solution to what appears to be an issue with logic when he says it.

When Secret Invasion Should Have Been Released


In short, Secret Invasion should have been the first release after Avengers: Endgame. According to Marvel's own definitions, Phases 4, 5 and 6 are officially called the Multiverse Saga, with the first 3 chapters existing under the Infinity Saga title. The definition was a conscious move to separate the pre- and post-Thanos eras, as well as the less tangible promise that the MCU could, theoretically, have multiple Sagas that could stretch almost infinitely into the future. Or at least until the reboot question got too irresistible to ignore from a business point of view, presumably. And strictly speaking, it made sense to distinguish those chapters... or it would have if it had been executed properly. The problem, though, is that Thanos and Avengers: Endgame are still too interesting to the MCU.

Secret Invasion is a post-Endgame story the same way Falcon & The Winter Soldier, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Hawkeye, WandaVision and Black Widow all are. Even Thor: Love & Thunder deals with Thor reclaiming himself after the Blip. Each deals directly with the fallout of the Blip, exploring the still gaping wound of the world losing and then regaining billions of lives. Far From Home, WandaVision, Hawkeye, and Black Widow are more personal stories, with Falcon & The Winter Soldier straddling the line of the personal and the wider geopolitical ramifications of Endgame's ending. Secret Invasion fits that same category, portraying not only Nick Fury's own post-Endgame story, but also turning the lens onto wider global issues, thanks to the Skrull invasion and the idea of displaced people like F&TWS. While Secret Invasion makes no sense in Phase 5, it fits perfectly with those other post-Endgame projects.

Marvel Should Retcon Phase 4 Into A New Phase Entirely


None of those post-Endgame projects have much to do with the Multiverse at all, so their placement in the Multiverse Saga makes no sense. The solution, then, is to propose a different Phase 4 to the one Marvel officially released, starting with Spider-Man: Far From Home. Initially, Spidey's first sequel was presented as Endgame's Phase 3 epilogue because it dealt with Iron Man's death and the Blip directly, but then half of Phase 4 and Secret Invasion did the same thing, so there's no need for Far From Home not to drop out of Phase 3 and join the releases it fits thematically. Here's the new order of the True Phase 4 that Marvel should retcon into existence:
  • Spider-Man: Far From Home
  • Secret Invasion
  • The Falcon & The Winter Soldier
  • Black Widow
  • Thor: Love & Thunder
  • Hawkeye
  • What If...?
  • WandaVision
  • Loki
There are two edge cases here, but both have solid reasoning. What If...? might appear to be a Multiverse story, but it is fundamentally an Elseworlds retelling of the Infinity Saga, with Ultron gaining control of the Infinity Stones. In Phase 4, it could have primed Marvel's audience for the idea of the Multiverse before WandaVision's post-credits set-up and Loki introduced the idea more concretely. Loki season 1 coming at the end of Phase 4 would have been the perfect bridge between Loki's post-Endgame story (since it follows directly on from Tom Hiddleston's appearance there) and the opening of the MCU's Multiverse. The only questionable release is She-Hulk, which does add to the Smart Hulk story, but cannot possibly come before Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings because of the post-credits scene showing Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, so that has to stay in Phase 5.

That would then leave Phase 5 looking like this, with further changes to tie the actual Multiverse stories together, leading up Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the crossover that should be the Multiverse Saga's culmination:
  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
  • Eternals
  • Moon Knight
  • Ms. Marvel
  • She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
  • Loki Season 2
  • The Marvels
  • Agatha: Coven of Chaos
  • Deadpool 3
  • Avengers: Kang Dynasty
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Moon Knight and Eternals are all free throws, so can pretty much come anywhere in the MCU timeline, even if the latter explains why the other MCU superteam sat out Infinity War. Moving everything else in Marvel's official Phase 5 into Phase 6 tightens the story-telling, and allows a stronger through-line from Quantumania's Kang story through to Kang Dynasty, with brief deviations to tie up Ms Marvel, Secret Invasion and WandaVision's stories in The Marvels and Agatha: Coven Of Chaos. Obviously, none of this is possible given the production logistics in real life, but this will at least offer a corrected viewing order when everything is released. And by then, Secret Invasion's timeline mistake will be a thing of the past.

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Secret Invasion Director Talks Making an Ending With 'Guts'

Secret Invasion Director Talks Making an Ending With 'Guts'



Warning

The following contains major spoilers for the series finale of Secret Invasion, "Home," now streaming on Disney+.


Secret Invasion director Ali Selim discussed his choice to end the Disney+ and Marvel Studios limited series on a somewhat bleak note.

Selim was asked about the decision to make the final part of Secret Invasion's closing chapter -- wherein President Ritson declares war on the Skrulls -- a dark one while speaking to Entertainment Weekly. "Well, I think that Ritson could say, 'The Skrulls are welcome here,' which is a great message, but not great drama," he replied. "Nick Fury has to have some opposition as we leave the series. Even though he's come to terms with it, I don't know that it's realistic to think that everybody has come to terms with it. I think it's important to show that a sense of other can create a sense of conflict."

Selim concluded that the choice was whether to give the show a "Pollyanna ending" or make one that had "some real guts to it," the latter of which was the one picked. "The idea is that this battle could go on," remarked Selim. "But Sonya [Falsworth] and G'iah reconcile at the end, and maybe they're going to fix it. Maybe these two strong, beautiful women are going to come in and fix it."

Secret Invasion May Not Have Needed a Post-Credits Sequence

Prior to the interview, Selim had talked about why Secret Invasion had no post-credits scenes, saying that it was "a good question for Kevin Feige and the MCU at large," and that he doesn't know what Marvel is using the series to launch. "I do know what they're wrapping up, which is Nick Fury's internal struggle with aging and with his sense of purpose and his sense of 'other,' which I think gets wrapped up really well," he added. "And there's not much else to say about that, so I don't know that a post-credits sequence would help."

That said, a recent rumor claims that Captain America: Brave New World won't continue Secret Invasion's story, though The Marvels and Armor Wars will. On the topic of the connection between Secret Invasion and The Marvels, the former's leading man Samuel L. Jackson commented, "This series has to happen so that The Marvels can happen. All these things are connected in an interesting sort of way."

As for a possible second season of Secret Invasion, Selim remarked that has no knowledge regarding ideas for such a project, going on to further note that he has no plans for working on future Marvel Cinematic Universe projects.

All six episodes of Secret Invasion are now streaming on Disney+.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

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Marvel Created Another Sokovia Accords And It's Just As Useless

Marvel Created Another Sokovia Accords And It's Just As Useless


The MCU's Sokovia Accords might be returning after Secret Invasion, but this will likely be as unsuccessful as the last time they were implemented. Phase 5's Secret Invasion made some huge changes to the world of the MCU, not only focusing on the threat of a rebellious faction of shape-shifting Skrulls, but also exploring the MCU's political arena in great detail. This included introducing Dermot Mulroney as United States President Ritson, who found himself caught in the crossfire of the Skrull rebellion and Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury. Ritson's declaration of war against any alien citizens of Earth in Secret Invasion's finale hints at a dark future for the MCU.

Secret Invasion revealed that the Skrull rebellion had been targeting President Ritson for quite some time. Don Cheadle's Rhodey, a.k.a. War Machine, had been replaced by a Skrull and ascended through political ranks to work as Ritson's aide, quietly influencing the President. During Secret Invasion, an assassination attempt on Ritson by the Skrulls masquerading as Russian soldiers - and Rhodey's reveal that the rebellion had set up a base of operations on Russian soil - almost convinced Ritson to incite World War III. Luckily, nuclear war was avoided, but Ritson's new knowledge of dangerous Skrulls living among humanity led to a dark declaration against all off-world species.

President Ritson Declaring Aliens Enemy Combatants Can't Last


President Ritson's experiences in Secret Invasion lead to him declaring war on all off-world species living on Earth, which is seen to be inciting a wave of vigilante violence against Skrulls, or humans who individuals think are Skrulls. While it's evident that the Skrull rebellion needed to be dismantled, there are roughly a million innocent Skrulls living among humanity that would now be targeted under Ritson's new ruling. His specification of all extraterrestrial species being deemed dangerous could also throw various other MCU characters into jeopardy, including the citizens of New Asgard, several high-profile Avengers, and even Captain Marvel herself.

These actions could lead to the reemergence of the Sokovia Accords, a document introduced in Captain America: Civil War based on the Superhuman Registration Act from Marvel Comics. The Sokovia Accords demanded every hero reveal their identities and operate under the United Nations, which was something not all the Avengers could get on board with. This also put heroes such as Daredevil and Spider-Man into a huge amount of danger, as it's paramount that some heroes retain their secret identities. However, just like the Sokovia Accords, it's likely that Ritson's new ruling won't last too long, particularly since Captain America: Brave New World is set to see a new President replace Ritson.

Will Captain America 4 Address Ritson's Anti-Alien Sentiment?


Leading on from Secret Invasion, Phase 5's Captain America: Brave New World is set to explore the MCU's politics even further, promoting Harrison Ford's General Thaddeus Ross (previously portrayed by the late William Hurt) as the new President. Ross was an advocate for the Sokovia Accords in Captain America: Civil War, but could have had a change of heart after witnessing the traumatic events of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. This means that President Ritson's anti-alien declaration could be scrapped very quickly. On the other hand, this could be the perfect stepping-off-point for the widespread introduction of mutants into the MCU, relating more closely to Marvel Comics' Superhuman Registration Act.

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Secret Invasion Director Confirms Fan Speculation on When Rhodey Became a Skrull

Secret Invasion Director Confirms Fan Speculation on When Rhodey Became a Skrull


Secret Invasion director Ali Selim put to rest the debate over how long Rhodey has been a Skrull in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Per ComicBook.com, the filmmaker explained that War Machine has been a doppelganger for approximately seven years, with the swap happening shortly after the events of the last solo Captain America film. "A lot of people have asked about, 'Definitely, when did Rhodey...?' I think his legs not working at the end of episode six and him being in the hospital gown points to Captain America: Civil War." The moment the filmmaker is referring to is when Vision blasts War Machine with the Mind Stone during a battle with Iron Man, sending him crashing to Earth and rendering him paralyzed.

Despite Selim's confirmation, many fans have pushed back on the clarification, noting that the Rhodey appeared to bleed red blood during the final battle in Avengers: Endgame. Both Captain Marvel and Secret Invasion established that Skrulls have green blood, suggesting that the real War Machine was present during the War for Earth. At the time of writing, it remains unknown whether this was intentional or a consistency error.

Secret Invasion's Legacy

While Secret Invasion was hailed as a groundbreaking twist on the MCU, the series ultimately left audiences and critics disappointed. The finale currently boasts the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of any Disney+ show, with reviews insisting the narrative didn't do enough to alter the world or advance any character arcs. One of the more popular aspects of the story was Rhodey's inclusion, as many fans were shocked to discover that Tony Stark's best friend was a Skrull secretly working for Gravik on a mission to bring down Nick Fury.


Another major MCU character Secret Invasion confirmed to be a Skrull was Martin Freeman's Everett K. Ross, who was exposed in the show's premiere episode. While it remains unknown when the changeover took place, Freeman believes it was relatively recent. "I don't wanna play Ross as Skrull. I don't wanna believe he's been a Skrull this whole time, so I don't," the actor said. "That's not what I've played. I've believed, all the time, in Ross's integrity. I really enjoy playing Ross, as a Skrull or otherwise."

Secret Invasion is now streaming in its entirety on Disney+.


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Secret Invasion: How Many Episodes Is Marvel's Disney+ Show?

Secret Invasion: How Many Episodes Is Marvel's Disney+ Show?

Secret Invasion: How Many Episodes Is Marvel's Disney+ Show?

Exactly how many episodes is Marvel Studios' planning for the MCU's most recent Disney+ streaming show, Secret Invasion?

Taking inspiration from one of the most influential stories in Marvel Comics, Secret Invasion became Marvel Studios' eighth live-action series to debut on the streaming service, along with the first to come in Phase 5.

Although the series has suffered low viewership numbers through its first few weeks, it looks to add a new and exciting chapter to the MCU's legacy as different streaming shows add to Marvel Studios' Multiverse Saga.

How Many Episodes Does Secret Invasion Have?

Marvel Studios' Secret Invasion is set to run for six episodes on Disney+, with four episodes aired on the streaming service thus far.

The final two episodes will premiere on Disney+ on Wednesday, July 19, and Wednesday, July 26.

Of the 16 Disney+ shows (17 seasons) that have a confirmed episode count, only half of them have six episodes.

Four of them have nine episodes, one being the animated What If...? and two others in WandaVision and Agatha: Coven of Chaos being closely tied to one another.

The only one confirmed to be longer than nine episodes right now is Daredevil: Born Again, which was confirmed for an 18-episode first season at San Diego Comic-Con 2022.

While Secret Invasion and its other counterparts are usually set for six episodes, there are a couple of animated shows that are shorter, with I Am Groot consisting of five entries and Marvel Zombies set for a record-breaking four episodes.

The full list of episode counts for all of the MCU's Disney+ series can be seen below:

  1. WandaVision - 9 episodes
  2. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - 6 episodes
  3. Loki - 6 episodes
  4. What If...? - 9 episodes
  5. Hawkeye - 6 episodes
  6. Moon Knight - 6 episodes
  7. Ms. Marvel - 6 episodes
  8. I Am Groot - 5 episodes
  9. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - 9 episodes
  10. Secret Invasion - 6 episodes
  11. Loki Season 2 - 6 episodes
  12. What If…? Season 2 - 9 episodes
  13. Ironheart - 6 episodes
  14. Agatha: Coven of Chaos - 9 episodes
  15. Daredevil: Born Again - 18 episodes
  16. Marvel Zombies - 4 episodes

The first four episodes of Secret Invasion are now streaming on Disney+.

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Is That MCU Hero Really Dead? Marvel’s Own Spoiler Reveals The Answer

Is That MCU Hero Really Dead? Marvel’s Own Spoiler Reveals The Answer


Secret Invasion episode 3 appears to kill off G'iah early in the episode - but Marvel's own spoilers suggest that might not be the case. After Maria Hill's death in Secret Invasion episode 1, it seemed unlikely that any other major character deaths would be happening in the show's build-up. However, this proved untrue a mere two episodes after Hill's demise, as Talos' daughter G'iah was shot and killed by Gravik in episode 3, after the MCU villain got evidence that she worked with Talos against his plans.

G'iah's death looked seemingly fatal, especially as audiences saw in Secret Invasion episode 1 that a bullet wound could still prove fatal to Skrull even with their enhanced physical abilities, with Nick Fury being able to quickly dispose of an enemy Talos was fighting this way. That said, many have questioned whether G'iah is truly dead, given the somewhat anticlimactic nature of her demise. That skepticism is strongly supported by Marvel itself, as the MCU has already provided evidence that suggests G'iah isn't as dead as Secret Invasion episode 3 would like viewers to think.


Why Marvel Want You To Think G’iah Is Dead

G'iah appearing to be dead serves three purposes - two plot-based, and one more broadly show-based. Killing off G'iah means Nick Fury and Talos are still in much the same situation they were after Maria Hill died, serving as a duo against countless forces. This also encourages audiences to speculate about the mysteries the show has set up surrounding the Skrull base, as G'iah is the one who snoops around it in episode 2 - and it would be clear that she'd continue to, if viewers didn't believe her to be dead.

Related:
Clever Nick Fury Theory Sets Up Marvel's Next Heartbreaking Twist

On a broader level, Secret Invasion is at its heart a spy drama in the MCU, and as such it makes sense to have it continually surprise audiences with twists and character deaths. Seemingly killing G'iah allows it to accomplish both aspects, as her death early in the episode comes as a genuine surprise, and her potential return would no doubt also shock many, as plenty of people may believe G'iah served her purpose in the plot and thus was killed off afterward as a result.

Secret Invasion Trailer Footage Already Hinted G’iah Returns

While Secret Invasion episode 3 appears to close with G'iah's death, the trailer footage for the show paints a different picture. In it, Emilia Clarke is shown in scenes that haven't appeared thus far in the show, which suggests her character's seeming demise isn't quite so permanent. Admittedly, they could end up being flashbacks, or instead follow G'iah's human counterpart - or even another Skrull who has replicated G'iah's human form. However, the content of the scenes suggests otherwise, as the character seemingly investigating a Skrull base most logically connects to G'iah's previous attempt in episode 2 to get to the bottom of what the Skrull experiments are about.

G'iah being revealed to actually be alive would work alongside her somewhat anticlimactic death, by later revealing that she knew Gravik was set to turn on her, and intended to fake her own death so that she could continue to work behind the scenes. G'iah having this plan in mind would also provide a different explanation as to why she outwardly appears to not realize Gravik was seeing if she'd take the bait and reveal herself as a double-agent. With Maria Hill's death in Secret Invasion episode 1, killing off two characters with immense potential in the span of an hour and a half would also seem a little much - whereas a classic spy double-twist would seem fitting.



How G’iah Could Return In Secret Invasion

G'iah faking her death - either via external means, theoretically by her own shapeshifting powers, or solely by simply surviving the gunshot - would allow her return to be after she's done some more sleuthing. As G'iah is not being actively pursued by Gravik's Skrulls after he seemingly killed her, Emilia Clark's MCU character would be able to access places Fury and Talos would struggle to, so logically her reappearance best serves the show when it gives viewers a unique viewpoint into the events taking place. The trailer footage shows G'iah among a sea of mysterious devices that could well be the machines that transform her people into Super Skrulls, so this could well be when audiences next see her.

With the show going to such great lengths to continually up the scale of the threat Nick Fury is facing off against, and Secret Invasion episode 3 having Gravik finally name drop the MCU Super Skrulls, it's likely this reveal would be sooner rather than later. However, if that's the case, hopefully enough time will be placed between G'iah's death and reappearance that it doesn't feel like she immediately reappeared after being shot to death - though given all the twists that take place in episode 3 alone, G'iah appearing as soon as episode 4 might not feel rushed given how much could transpire between the two installments.

New episodes of Secret Invasion release every Wednesday on Disney+.
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Clever Nick Fury Theory Sets Up Marvel's Next Heartbreaking Twist

Clever Nick Fury Theory Sets Up Marvel's Next Heartbreaking Twist


Thanks to Marvel's Secret Invasion, a new theory suggests that some significant heartbreak is coming for Nick Fury with some key twists and reveals about his loved ones. Throughout the MCU, not much has been revealed about Nick Fury's personal life. Although this makes a lot of sense for the former head of SHIELD to have more secrets and a large redacted history compared to most, Secret Invasion has begun to pull back the layers of Nick Fury's past, both with the alien shape-shifting Skrulls and with those who are closest to him (and where the two intersect).

As seen in Secret Invasion episode 2, Nick Fury is on his own, having been officially fired by Col. James Rhodes from his new position in the MCU as the head of SABER. Having extremely limited resources in the face of a massive Skrull infiltration seeking to ignite World War III, the odds are very much stacked against Fury who's already lost Maria Hill. As such, it's understandable that Nick Fury has seemingly gone home, greeting his never-before-seen wife Priscilla Fury (played by Charlayne Woodard). However, the twist that she's in fact as Skrull herself has created two compelling theories about the episodes of Secret Invasion still to come.

Theory 1: Nick Fury Knows His Wife Is A Skrull

The ending of Secret Invasion episode 2 may have led some to think Priscilla was keeping her status as a Skrull a secret from Fury. However, it stands to reason that Fury knows his wife is a Skrull, especially if they've been together for an implied 30 years. Having been shown in the flashback to 1997 with Fury's promise to the Skrull refugees, there was certainly a loaded look between the two. It also seemed as though she was placed as Gravik's protector after the young Skrull's parents has been eliminated by the Kree Empire.

It would certainly be strange if Fury didn't know the truth about Priscilla. After all, Fury is one of the world's greatest super-spies in the MCU. Instead, it makes a lot more sense that no one else knows the truth about Priscilla aside from perhaps those closest to Fury such as Talos and/or Maria Hill (when she was alive). It would also follow that the existence of Fury's wife in general was highly classified, much like Hawkeye's family who were kept secret and anonymous to keep them safe while Clint Barton worked with SHIELD and later as one of the Avengers.

Theory 2: Gravik Is Fury's Adoptive Son

In that same vein, it certainly seems as though Gravik could be Fury's adoptive son given the implied connection in the flashback with Priscilla having become his guardian of sorts. Fury and Gravik clearly have a history with the comment from Talos in the premier that he took Fury's absence the hardest. The unkept promise from Fury combined with parental abandonment after the deaths of his biological parents would certainly explain why Gravik has gone to such extremes as an adult, motivating a full-on covert war between Skrulls and humanity as a result.

Exiling Talos from the Skrull Council, Gravik has since become the new Skrull General with absolute authority. He even has plans to counter the Avengers with a Super-Skrull program amid his goal to end humanity via nuclear fallout, the reason why he and his fellow Skrulls have been pitting Russia and the United States against each other. However, it likely all stems from a very personal vendetta that began with Fury not returning to Earth even after he came back from the Snap.

This adoptive son theory fits with Gravik's relationship with the young Priscilla as seen in the 1997 flashback. However, it would also explain why Gravik is so willing to trust G'iah despite who her father is (Talos). In this scenario, Gravik would know that paternal links don't matter when you have a goal.

That being said, it's become quite clear that Gi'ah is no longer on board with Gravik's plans to wipe out humanity with a complete takeover of Earth. His tactics have become far too brutal, so much so that Nick Fury might have no choice but to end Gravik permanently, a dark possibility made even more tragic when and if it's ultimately revealed that the two of them had a father/son relationship that's since become a bitter rivalry over the fate of their respective species.

Fury Knowing His Wife Is A Skrull Explains Why She's A Secret

Secret Invasion already confirmed that the government has long been wary of the Skrull population on Earth, and they don't even know that there are now close to a million Skrulls living on the planet thanks to the summons Talos made during the Blip. If the government knew about Skrulls and their threat, Fury could hardly publicize the fact that he's married to one. While it would certainly be a wild ride if it's revealed that Fury didn't know that his wife was a Skrull this whole time, it would undoubtedly create far more questions than answers.

Instead, Fury knowing all about his wife's true nature is what makes the most sense for Secret Invasion, as it also explains why she's been kept secret and has never been seen before in the MCU. Likewise, it also explains why Fury has refused to give up on the Skrulls even after Talos lied to him and kept his own secrets regarding his shape-shifting race. It's in Fury's best interest to do all that he can to protect both his spouse's race and his own.

It's clear that Nick Fury came to love the Skrull people over the years, and the flashbacks to 1997 proved that he adopted some of their customs such as their forehead touch as a greeting/sign of affection. Likewise, it follows that he must have at least tried to find a world suitable for the Skrulls and simply came up empty, while also being waylaid due to all the threats facing his own world throughout the MCU timeline. As such, the theory that Fury knows he married a Skrull combined with Gravik being his adopted son is as heartbreaking as it is quite likely for Secret Invasion going forward.
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MCU Phase 5 Gives A New Reason Thanos Was Right, 5 Years After Infinity War

MCU Phase 5 Gives A New Reason Thanos Was Right, 5 Years After Infinity War


5 years after the Mad Titan's defeat in Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has revealed yet another reason that "Thanos Was Right" in Marvel's new Secret Invasion show. Seeking to balance the universe from overpopulation and what he saw as inevitable extinction, Thanos collected the Infinity Stones to erase half of all life in the universe at random, believing he was saving the remaining half. While the Avengers were able to time-travel and collect Infinity Stones of their own from the past to undo Thanos' victory in the present, the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame is still being felt in Marvel's Phase 5 (and there have been undeniable consequences).

A core belief in the MCU that has continued to pop up is the controversial idea that "Thanos Was Right", a tagline first seen in Marvel's Hawkeye series via graffiti as well as a printed mug. However, there have also been more tangential connections in other Marvel projects, and Marvel's new Secret Invasion show has joined the conversation. Inherent within the plot of the show's primary antagonist Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir), the alien Skrull leader's mission might not be necessary had Thanos' Snap not been undone by the Avengers.

Gravik's Secret Invasion Plan Mirrors Thanos' Villain Motivation

As revealed in Secret Invasion's premiere episode, several of the shape-shifting Skrulls living on Earth have grown tired of the unkept promises made by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), both of whom promised to help the Skrulls find a home of their own. After all, those promises were made 30 years prior as seen in 2019's Captain Marvel which was set in 1995. Led by Gravik, a Skrull rebellion has now begun in 2015 after Fury's primary Skrull ally Talos (Ben Mendohlson) has been exiled from the Skrull Council.

Immune to radiation, the Skrulls have been operating out of Russia and its many abandoned nuclear power plants, orchestrating terrorist attacks that will likely only escalate as Gravik seeks to claim Earth for Skrull-kind. The end goal looks to be inciting a nuclear war between the United States and Russia, one that only Skrulls would benefit from as the resulting radiation covering the world would only harm humans, allowing Skrull's to become the dominant power on Earth. As such, the discussions about limited resources on planets seem linked to the Skrull's decision to irradiate the Earth and destroy humanity’s ability to live on it.

The idea of not sharing/there being too many inhabitants on a planet to share peacefully seems inherent in both the plot of Avengers: Endgame with Thanos and now with Secret Invasion with Gravik. It's the most likely reason why the Skrull still don't have a world of their own. It stands to reason that any Skrulls alive after Thanos' Snap would have thrived as they likely would have found a new planet to call home rather quickly.

Every Way The MCU Proved Thanos Right After Endgame

Secret Invasion is by no means the first Marvel project to provide evidence for the "Thanos Was Right" argument. Avengers: Endgame itself proved global pollution had decreased during the Blip with Captain America's comment about seeing whales swimming through New York's Hudson River. Also, Falcon and the Winter Soldier's plot was largely focused on the Flag-Smashers, a radical group that formed in defense of refugees who were forced out of their homes and jobs after those who'd been snapped returned after their 5-year absence.

Additionally, conflicts over resources and an arms race for greater power have continued as seen in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Now, the Skrulls are determined to claim a new home by any means necessary in Secret Invasion. Unfortunately, it all points back to Thanos having a point despite the horrific nature of his solution in the MCU.
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Marvel Releases Secret Invasion's First Five Minutes Early for Free

Marvel Releases Secret Invasion's First Five Minutes Early for Free


Marvel Studios is letting fans in on a secret: Secret Invasion's first five minutes. The beginning of the Disney+ miniseries is available for free ahead of its premiere.

Per DiscussingFilm on Twitter, Marvel unveiled the first five minutes of Secret Invasion via theinvasionhasbegun.com. Once fans visit the website, they can access the free footage using the code RSD3PX5N7S. The preview offers a more extensive look at the premise of the show, as well as Samuel L. Jackson reprising his iconic role as Nick Fury.

Secret Invasion is the first "event" in Marvel Cinematic Universe history, an action-adventure show centered around trust, or a lack thereof. The series chronicles the invasion of Earth by a radicalized group of Skrulls, a race of shapeshifting aliens who assume the identities of political figures, among other people, in their quest to take over the planet. The rebel Skrull group, led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir), decided to invade Earth after feeling Fury and Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel went back on their word to find their people a new home. As evidenced by trailers and character posters released ahead of the series, it's possible anyone in Secret Invasion could be a Skrull.

Where Nick Fury Stands at the Beginning of Secret Invasion
Because of the pending invasion of Earth, as well as the tragic events of the last two Avengers films, Infinity War and Endgame, Fury appears more vulnerable and pensive than ever in Secret Invasion. The stress from those instances, as well as the collapse of S.H.I.E.L.D., have led Fury to question his place in the world and wonder what he has left to offer given his age. Despite these factors, Fury refuses to call the Avengers to help him as he feels he must fight his own battles.

Secret Invasion also stars Ben Mendelsohn as Skrull sect leader and Fury ally Talos, while Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke plays Talos' daughter G'iah, who distrusts Fury after his supposedly broken promise. Martin Freemen reprises his MCU role as Everett K. Ross, while Don Cheadle stars as James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine and Cobie Smulders appears as ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill.

Jackson serves as an executive producer of Secret Invasion, which will consist of six episodes and be the first Phase Five TV series in the MCU. The events of the spy thriller, as confirmed by Jackson, are necessary to set up The Marvels, which hits theaters on Nov. 10.

Secret Invasion premieres on Disney+ on Jun. 21.

Source: Twitter
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Secret Invasion: Marvel Studios Had One Request for Nick Fury's MCU Return

Secret Invasion: Marvel Studios Had One Request for Nick Fury's MCU Return


Secret Invasion director Ali Selim teased Nick Fury's transformation in the highly-anticipated Disney+ series.

In a recent interview with Total Film, Selim opened up about Samuel L. Jackson's return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after four years since last starring in 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home. For his twelfth time portraying the former S.H.I.E.L.D director, Selim revealed that Marvel Studios had "required and requested" Jackson to become "a film-noir character" for Secret Invasion, in which Nick Fury must transition into "more of a lone wolf, Western character as the show goes on." Selim also mentioned some of their inspirations for Fury's returns including classic Western movies like The Third Man and The Searchers, as well as Clint Eastwood's performance in 1992's Unforgiven.

After eleven blockbuster movies, the Oscar-nominated actor is finally leading his first solo MCU project. In a previous interview, Jackson confirmed that fans will see a more vulnerable side to Nick Fury in Secret Invasion, as he continues to deal with the aftermath of the last two Avengers movies, Infinity War and Endgame. "Here you have a guy who’s showing his face, and showing his age," he said. "It’s an opportunity to humanize someone that everybody thinks is superhuman."


What to Expect in Secret Invasion?

Secret Invasion hails from head writer Kyle Bradstreet and is based on Marvel Comics’ popular comic book crossover series of the same name which was published from April to December, 2008. According to the synopsis, the show takes place "in the present-day MCU" where Fury takes on an army of shapeshifting rogue Skrulls who are planning "a clandestine invasion of Earth." Joining him in the fight to save humanity are returning MCU vets Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, Ben Mendelsohn as Talos, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, and Don Cheadle as Rhodey.


In addition, the series will also introduce new characters to the long-running blockbuster franchise in the form of Oscar winner Olivia Colman as MI6 agent Sonya Falsworth, Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke as Talos' grown-up daughter G'iah, and The OA alum Kingsley Ben-Adir as main antagonist Gravik. Following his appearance in Secret Invasion, Jackson will next be seen in Nia DaCosta's The Marvels starring opposite Brie Larson's Captain Marvel.

Secret Invasion is scheduled to debut on June 21, exclusively on Disney+.

Source: Total Film via The Direct
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Nick Fury Prepares to Fight the Skrull Horde in Secret Invasion's New Disney+ Promo

Nick Fury Prepares to Fight the Skrull Horde in Secret Invasion's New Disney+ Promo

A new promo for Disney+'s Secret Invasion sees Samuel L. Jackon's Nick Fury prepare to take on the Skrull horde alone.

The promo sees Fury meets with the likes of Don Cheadle's James Rhodes, better known as War Machine, in preparation for the impending war he knows is coming. Fury also declares the necessity that he fight this battle on his own, both for how personal it is and the fact that there are so few left who he can trust, with friends and allies all potentially replaced by shapeshifting Skrulls as part of the titular secret invasion.


The next entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Secret Invasion is set to take place just after the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and will see Fury pushing back against the invading Skrull force, which has seemingly infiltrated nearly every level of government and various clandestine agencies. In March, Jackson opened up about why fans can't expect to see any of Earth's Mightiest Heroes showing up for the fight, explaining, "What he's not doing is calling in his super friends. So that's part of the whole dilemma... You'll find that out. There's a very good reason he's holding back."

How Secret Invasion Fits Into the MCU
Jackson previously discussed the role that Secret Invasion has in setting up The Marvels, which he will feature in alongside the film's starring trio of Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani as Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan, respectively. Speaking on the interconnected nature of the two properties within the MCU, Jackson simply stated, "This series has to happen so that The Marvels can happen."

Secret Invasion will also see Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke take center stage alonside Jackson as the Skrull shapeshifter G'iah. In early May, Clarke commented on Secret Invasion's six-episode arc and the broad appeal that it was designed to have. "It's definitely a show for the fans," Clarke said, "But it's also a show that my mum, who doesn't watch Marvel, will watch and get, do you know what I mean?" Clarke went on to touch on the inherent dangers of the genre itself, as fans can easily find themselves in a situation "Where if you haven't watched all 17 other films or shows, you're not going to get it." Clarke promise, "This isn't that at all."

Secret Invasion premieres on Disney+ on June 21, 2023.

Source: YouTube
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New 'Secret Invasion' Trailer Isolates Nick Fury From His Super Friends

New 'Secret Invasion' Trailer Isolates Nick Fury From His Super Friends

Trust no one. As a recent tease on social media noted, how can we know that the ones closest to us are who they say they are — or if they're even human? A new trailer for Marvel's upcoming spy thriller Secret Invasion just dropped, and it's sending the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a direction rarely seen before, with consequences that will linger long beyond the final shot of the series.

The trailer shows more of the ongoing Skrull refugee crisis, combined with the escalating war for Earth which prompts Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury to return from space to take on the ever-increasing threat of a rogue band of Skrulls who are growing evermore disenchanted with Fury's lack of progress on re-homing their displaced population. When asked why he hasn't called in any of his "special friends" Fury says that this is a war that he needs to fight alone.

The series is based heavily around Fury, with Jackson previously enthusing about the chance to expand further on Fury's backstory having generally just been seen as the man behind the Avengers and nothing more than a team manager. He said:

"We're also filling in blanks about Fury's life that we don't know. We're meeting people he knew when he was out there on his own, before there were Avengers or anyone else. I had to figure out some stuff and work out some new things, which I've been trying to do for a while. It's great to have an opportunity to find out who he was and delve into how much of a toll his job actually takes on his personal life."


Who's Appearing in Secret Invasion?
The series will see Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, and Cobie Smulders reprise their roles as Nick Fury, Talos, and Maria Hill, while Don Cheadle’s James "Rhodey" Rhodes and Martin Freeman’s Everett K. Ross are also set to appear in the series. Joining those MCU stalwarts will be some of the franchise's most anticipated new additions, including the likes of Emilia Clarke as G'iah – the daughter of Mendelsohn's Skrull character, Olivia Colman as Sonya Falsworth, and Kingsley Ben-Adir as Gravik. Dermot Mulroney is also signed onto the series to play the President of the United States in the series. Carmen Ejogo, Killian Scott, Christopher McDonald, and Charlayne Woodard have also been cast in undisclosed roles.

Secret Invasion will premiere on June 21 on Disney+ and will include six episodes. Check out the newly released trailer for the upcoming series below:


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