MCU Theory: Eternals' Black Knight Will Play A Role In Secret Invasion

After Eternals, Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman can return to fight the Skrulls in Marvel’s Secret Invasion show. In the comic books, Dane Whitman is the Black Knight, a superhero who has a reputation as the greatest swordsman in the Marvel Universe.

Dane, who has been fighting alongside the Avengers since the late 1960s, is set to make his big-screen debut in Marvel’s Eternals, a movie about a race of superpowered immortals who have lived on Earth for thousands of years. It’s worth noting that Black Knight is the only confirmed character in the movie who is human in the comics, which raises questions about how he fits into the story. Played by Kit Harrington, Black Knight is expected to be connected to Gemma Chan’s Sersi, one of the most powerful members of the Eternals. The two shared a romance in the pages of The Avengers in the early 1990s, and it would seem that their love story is about to be adapted to the MCU. Beyond that, it’s not altogether clear what Marvel Studios has in store for Dane Whitman.

It’s quite possible that Marvel’s plan for the sword-fighting Avenger involves him appearing in other projects, such as Secret Invasion. Based on the comic book event of the same name, the upcoming Disney+ series will revolve around Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), who will be up against the shape-shifting Skrulls. Here’s why Kit Harrington’s MCU character could be an ally to their cause in Phase 4.

Black Knight’s Role In Marvel Comics’ Secret Invasion Explained

Secret Invasion was a story that encompassed dozens of superheroes from all over the Marvel Universe. At the time, it was one of the biggest crossovers they had ever done, considering that characters across a long list of ongoing titles had their stories affected by it. The number of characters involved reflected the sheer scale of the problem the Skrulls posed. Due to their ability to change their physical appearances, the Skrulls managed to infiltrate multiple levels of government and the superhero community.

When the Skrulls came out of hiding and launched their attack, England had to depend on heroes like Black Knight, who had been out of the spotlight for years. Armed with the Ebony Blade, Dane fought off several waves of Skrulls single-handedly. During this time, he crossed paths with a doctor named Faiza Hussain, who became a new love interest and an apprentice to the character. With Faiza at his side, Black Knight teamed up with Captain Britain to do battle with Super Skrull, who is arguably the most powerful and the most well-known member of his species. The classic villain, who possesses the combined abilities of the Fantastic Four, was more than a match for Black Knight and Captain Britain, but he was eventually defeated. As a result, England was saved.

Secret Invasion Needs MCU Superheroes

As things stand, there are currently no superheroes confirmed to appear in the MCU adaptation of Secret Invasion, but that could change soon. It could gain one in Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau, who was introduced to a Skrull in the WandaVision season finale’s first post-credits scene. More could follow. While comments from Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige suggest that it won’t be as full of heroes as the comic book version, it does need some in order to capture the high-stakes feel of the original story. It wouldn’t feel like Secret Invasion if Nick Fury only relies on spies and SWORD agents to root out and defeat the Skrulls. For this reason, it’s important that Marvel brings in established MCU heroes (and possibly introduces new ones as well). Characters who headline their own films, such as Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) may not be on the table, but the MCU has reached a point where they may not be necessary. As of Phase 4, there are plenty of powerful heroes that the Earth can turn to in a time of need. One option is Dane Whitman, who should be fresh off his role in Eternals by the time Secret Invasion releases in 2022.

Why Black Knight Is Likely To Return After Eternals

Dane Whitman is the Eternals character who stands the best chance of making MCU appearances outside the film and any potential sequels. After all, he isn’t a member of the Eternals, nor is he deeply connected to their story in Marvel Comics. First and foremost, Black Knight is an Avengers character. This classic member of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes has been helping them save the world for decades now. During the early 1990s, he was even the face of the team (and its leader), having appeared front-and-center on several of their comic book covers. He was the most important character in the comic at the time. As someone who has led the Avengers through several battles, it’s hard to imagine someone like him being limited to just Eternals movies. It seems much more likely that his Eternals role is meant to set him up for something a lot bigger. It makes sense that after being introduced, Black Knight could evolve into a key MCU hero. Based on his history, he’d also be a strong candidate for team leader in Avengers 5.

What Black Knight’s Secret Invasion Role Could Be

When Kit Harrington was first cast in Eternals, it was said that the character he’d be playing was Dane Whitman – not Black Knight. What that means is that he may not be the Marvel Comics swordsman straight away. Though he could already be a skilled swordfighter, he may not get his hands on the Ebony Blade until after his journey with the Eternals begins. If so, he may not become the Black Knight until the end of the movie, or later. His first role as a full-fledged superhero may not arrive until after Eternals releases. Secret Invasion, which is expected to hit Disney+ less within a year of the movie’s debut, could very well be the first time audiences will see Kit Harrington's character fully suited up as the Black Knight from Marvel Comics.

With all his skills, there are multiple ways Dane can contribute to the fight against the Skrulls in Secret Invasion. A lesser-known fact about the hero is that he has a background in physics. If Marvel brings this aspect to the character to the big screen in Eternals, it could be a factor in Secret Invasion as well. It may be that SWORD calls him in for his scientific expertise. If that’s the case, he can be an asset to SWORD’s efforts in more ways than one. In Black Knight, they’d have a competent scientist and a superhero with the skills to pose a physical challenge to the Skrulls’ strongest warriors.

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