Everything We Know About Marvel's 'Secret Invasion'
The Marvel Cinematic Universe's next phase so far has been teed up through various Disney+ spinoff series, like The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (focused on Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan's titular characters) and WandaVision (Focused on Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany's titular characters). Another well-known character to get the spinoff treatment—and the first major character to star in a series where his character's name isn't in the title (with Loki, Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, and Moon Knight among others on the way) is Samuel L. Jackson's longtime MCU fixture Nick Fury, in a storyline ripped straight from the comics.
Secret Invasion is just one of many Phase Four shows and movies Marvel has in the works. The Disney+ series are clearly meant to tide us over until the grand theatrical releases, which will set up new superhero groups like The Eternals, possibly bring together new storylines like Shang-Chi, and expand on existing material like Doctor Strange, Thor and others. Marvel has at least the next three years of content strategically planned out.
Here's all the news about Marvel's Secret Invasion, all in one place.
What is Secret Invasion about?
Based on the Secret Invasion comic storyline from 2008, the Disney+ show will explore a faction of Skrulls, shape-shifting aliens that have been infiltrating Earth for years.
The show could have a direct tie-in to Captain Marvel, which introduced a Skrull named Talos (played by the great Ben Mendelsohn) and his family, who ask Captain Marvel (revealed to be a rogue Kree alien) to help them find a new home after the Kree-Skrull war. In the 2019 film, the Skrulls garner sympathy. The new series will have to explain how the aliens returned to Earth and managed to gain such a foothold in Earth's society.
Skrulls also appeared in the final moments of WandaVision, where Monica Rambeau speaks with a Skrull who calls her to space. The connection makes sense, since Monica's mother is Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers' friend Maria Rambeau.
There's also been some speculation—though purely speculation—that Sharon Carter's about face in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier could be because she's not Sharon Carter at all, but rather a Skrull imposter. That's just a bit of speculation, but we'll have to see.
How is it different from the comics?
In the original 2008 comic arc, Skrulls are shape-shifting aliens who have over time replaced various Marvel superheroes as imposters. To defeat the Skrull invasion of Earth, Marvel heroes, including those from the Avengers, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, must band together to stop the aliens. In the process of the invasion, the Skrulls destroy valuable S.H.I.E.L.D. bases and other buildings.
Who's in the cast?
On the Disney+ website, only Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn as the Talos, the Skrull from Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home, have been cast. But according to Hollywood Reporter, Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke, The Crown's Olivia Colman, and One Night in Miami's Kingsley Ben-Adir will also star in the show. There's no word yet on what their roles will be.
Secret Invasion will be written and executive produced by Kyle Bradstreet of Mr. Robot fame. Thomas Bezucha and Ali Selim will direct.
When will Secret Invasion come out?
Disney+ announced six episodes for the show. No word yet on when the series is set to debut, or if it will drop weekly or all at once.
While we are still waiting to hear more, Loki is coming on Disney+ on June 9, and could contain even more clues to what's next. After that, we know that a few more shows are on the way too—Ms. Marvel, What if..., and potentially Hawkeye are all planned for 2021 releases, with She-Hulk and Moon Knight also penciled in for 2022.
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