Captain Marvel Theory: Carol Danvers Is A Skrull In The MCU

Captain Marvel will introduce the MCU version of Carol Danvers... or is she actually a Skrull? The first trailer for Captain Marvel showed Carol Danvers in conflict with the shapeshifting alien race known as the Skrulls - including punching one in disguise as an old lady - but is the truth darker than that?

Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby back in 1962, the Skrulls are a warlike race who use their shapeshifting powers to infiltrate a planet's defenses and then undermine their foes from within. They have also long been locked in a millennia-old war against another powerful race, the Kree. The MCU's version of the Skrulls will clearly be heavily influenced by these original comics, with Captain Marvel explicitly inspired by a 1971-1972 Avengers arc referred to as The Kree-Skrull War. That saw Earth essentially become No-Man's Land in the conflict between these two rapacious races of aliens, with the Avengers desperately attempting to minimize the collateral damage.

The Captain Marvel trailer has both inspired and apparently confirmed a whole host of theories, ranging from the secret identity of Jude Law's enigmatic Starforce commander to the possibility that Carol Danvers' mind is being tampered with. One of the most entertaining theories of all, though, has been launched by popular YouTuber Mr. Sunday Movies. Could Carol Danvers herself be a Skrull imposter?

This Page: Is Captain Marve A Skrull?
Page 2: Analyzing The Carol-Skrull Theory

Theory: Is Carol Danvers A Skrull?

The theory is that the Carol Danvers we see in Captain Marvel is actually a Skrull impostor. Mr. Sunday's idea is that, as we see in the trailer, Carol Danvers was caught up in an explosion generated by an alien device. In the comics, the explosion of the Kree Psyche-Magnetron granted Carol super-powers; but, so the theory goes, in the MCU it killed her. Subsequently, a Skrull has taken Carol's place, either at Yon-Rogg's bidding or the Skrull warlord Talos'. Crucially, this shapeshifter's mind has been overwhelmed by Carol's own mental patterns: she has no idea she is really a Skrull. That would explain why Captain Marvel's mind appears to be so fragmented in the trailer; different psyches are warring against one another, vying for control.

Surprisingly, this theory has a strong comic book precedent. The process the Skrulls use to duplicate memories has always been presented as quite unstable. That's why the Skrulls typically keep their victims alive in order to access their memories; even then, strong-willed individuals have been able to influence their Skrull replacements. But when the subject is dead, a Skrull undergoes a different process. The new mental patterns are literally grafted on top of their own. Thus these Skrull impostors become sleeper agents, unaware of their true nature.

The most notable Skrull to suffer this fate was a warrior named Khn'nr. Introduced in the buildup to 2007's Secret Invasion plot, he was a sleeper agent who took on the form of the first Marvel Comics superhero Captain Marvel, the Kree who inspired Carol Danvers. Khn'nr's mental conditioning proved too strong, though, and he was lost to the Kree champion's identity - even battling against the Skrulls when they launched their invasion. It would certainly be appropriate for Marvel to lift one of the most fascinating ideas from the Secret Invasion arc, especially one that involved a different iteration of Captain Marvel.

It's already clear that, in thematic terms, Captain Marvel explores the themes of trust and betrayal. Is Jude Law's Starforce commander really trustworthy, or does he have his own agenda? Can Nick Fury believe in his S.H.I.E.L.D. supervisor, or has he really been replaced by a Skrull impostor? The attraction of this theory is that it makes the theme of "trust" even more prominent; Carol Danvers can't even trust herself.

Next Page: Analyzing The Carol-Skrull Theory

What Would This Mean For Avengers 4 and the MCU?

Let's assume this theory is true for a moment. The MCU's version of Captain Marvel would be a unique character, an alien being who possesses cosmic powers but whose mind is fragmented. Presumably, her true nature would be revealed in Captain Marvel's third act, and from that point on her loyalties would continually be called into question. Perhaps she'll even briefly side with the Skrulls themselves. In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Nick Fury dropped a tantalizing hint that's expected to relate to Captain Marvel in some way. "The last time I trusted someone," he told Steve Rogers, "I lost an eye." Could the person he's referring to be Carol Danvers herself?

If so, that may actually explain why Fury hasn't called Captain Marvel in before now. He doesn't trust her, and he isn't entirely sure whose side she'd fight on. That's why he didn't want her as part of his prize Avengers Initiative. By this argument, Fury used the pager at the end of Avengers: Infinity War simply because he didn't have anything left to lose.

Looking forward to Avengers 4, this theory would effectively make Carol Danvers a bridge between the MCU's Earth-bound and cosmic franchises. Depending on the state of her mind, she'd have an intimate understanding of both affairs on Earth and in space, and that could make her a significant player in the battle against Thanos. It's important to remember that Thanos' snap decimated the Skrull Empire as well as humanity; thus all of Carol's various personas would be united in the mission to undo or avert the snap. Whether or not they'd stay united afterwards, of course, is open for debate - and would set up a lot of potentially thrilling movies.

Is This Theory Likely?

Captain Marvel Comic Carol Mother Reveal

While at first glance this theory seems outrageous, there's a surprisingly strong argument behind it. There's comic book precedent for the idea, it fits with the trailer quite effectively, and it marries up with Captain Marvel's central themes of trust and betrayal. Even more remarkably, the theory slots quite well into the overarching narrative of the MCU, possibly even explaining the major unanswered question of why Fury didn't call Captain Marvel in years ago.

But that needn't mean it's correct. We have to remember that Carol Danvers is important to the MCU for out-of-universe reasons too; she's literally the first female superhero to star in a solo MCU movie. That's already proving to be a prominent part of Marvel's marketing for Captain Marvel, and there'd likely be a significant backlash if the MCU's first female lead turned out to be an alien impostor. Meanwhile, it's also worth noting that the Captain Marvel film is strongly influenced by Kelly Sue DeConnick's run back in 2012 - the costume alone confirms that - which provides other possible explanations for Captain Marvel's amnesia, most notably the idea that Jude Law is playing Yon-Rogg, a villain who has been manipulating Carol's memories.

Another key problem here is that Marvel Studios always play the long game. This kind of shock tactic works for a one-off film, but Captain Marvel is clearly being positioned to stand at the forefront of the post-Phase 3 MCU. Having a conflicted Skrull at the forefront is certainly not a super smart idea. Marvel is far more likely to play Captain Marvel straight - simply because that sets up a clearer future role in the MCU.

All in all, this is probably one of the most fascinating and original theories about Captain Marvel to date. It's unlikely Marvel will actually take the film in this direction, but it's definitely fun to imagine.