One of the many Marvel series coming to Disney+ is Secret Invasion, which will loosely adapt the comic book of the same name – a Body Snatchers riff with Skrulls quietly invading Earth – with Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos at the center.
Since Secret Invasion is one of the biggest, most earth-shattering storylines in Marvel Comics history, some fans are surprised that it’s being adapted as a six-part streaming series as opposed to a movie. But the Disney+ series could still provide some explosive payoffs.
Revealing One Or More Major MCU Characters To Be A Skrull In Disguise
As Secret Invasion sets out to tell the story of a sect of Skrulls that have infiltrated Earth’s society, it seems a given that at least one major MCU character will be revealed to be a Skrull in disguise. It can’t be anyone with a solo movie or Disney+ series on the horizon, or anyone whose character development would be negated by such a revelation.
If the Skrull takeover happened recently, then there are lots of possible candidates: Bruce Banner, Hank Pym, Happy Hogan – pretty much any MCU character could’ve been body-snatched by a nefarious Skrull.
Bridging The Gap Between Captain Marvel And The Marvels
Secret Invasion is set to premiere in 2022, while the upcoming Captain Marvel sequel The Marvels is set for November 2022 release. After the first Captain Marvel movie, Carol Danvers’ MCU story arc is inextricably tied to the Skrulls – and to Nick Fury.
It’s entirely possible that the events of Secret Invasion will have a major impact on The Marvels, or that it might be crucial to bridging the gap between Captain Marvel’s first two solo movies.
General Ross Could Assemble The MCU’s Thunderbolts
Ever since William Hurt was brought back as General “Thunderbolt” Ross, fans have been waiting for him to assemble a Thunderbolts team in the MCU. The Thunderbolts are a team of reformed supervillains. In the MCU, it could include Ghost, Abomination, U.S. Agent – there are a bunch of possibilities.
In the Secret Invasion comic, part of the Skrulls’ invasion involves attacking the team’s headquarters, Thunderbolt Mountain. General Ross could assemble the Thunderbolts in the Disney+ adaptation and fend off such an attack.
Introducing The MCU’s Illuminati
In the real world, the Illuminati is likely just a wild conspiracy theory. In the Marvel Comics universe, however, it’s a real thing. The secret society was formed by Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Professor X, Doctor Strange, Namor, and Black Bolt at the beginning of the Secret Invasion storyline. Following the Kree-Skrull War (depicted in Captain Marvel), they warn the Skrull Empire against attempting to invade Earth. Then, of course, they invade Earth.
Some of those characters aren’t in the MCU yet, or have already died in it, so the cinematic universe’s Illuminati line-up will have to be a little different, but they could appear in Secret Invasion.
Establishing S.W.O.R.D.
After Nick Fury’s work with S.W.O.R.D. was teased in the post-credits scene of Spider-Man: Far From Home and the organization itself was introduced in WandaVision, Secret Invasion could really establish its place in the wider MCU.
In the comics, S.W.O.R.D. is essentially the cosmic version of S.H.I.E.L.D., protecting Earth from intergalactic threats. It could become vital to the next chapter of the MCU.
The Skrulls Could Pave The Way For A Bunch Of Celebrity Cameos
In the comic, the Skrulls that have invaded Earth are seen in the guise of various celebrities, including Tom Cruise, George W. Bush, and Stephen Colbert. At one point, one of them even impersonates Eric Cartman from South Park. The Disney+ series could pave the way for a bunch of cameoing celebrities to play Skrulls disguised as them.
Celebrity cameos are nothing new in the MCU: Elon Musk played himself in Iron Man 2, Bill Maher and Joan Rivers played themselves in Iron Man 3, and David Hasselhoff played himself (kind of) in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Setting Up Talos For A Larger Role
Ben Mendelsohn has been confirmed to return as Talos alongside Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury in Secret Invasion. Although he was initially introduced as a villain in Captain Marvel, the midpoint twist revealed him and a bunch of other Skrulls to be refugees who have been mischaracterized by Kree propaganda.
This hinted that the MCU’s Skrulls would be more complex than the one-note villains found in the comics. The MCU’s Skrulls are more like humans – a varied civilization with good people, bad people, and everything in between. Secret Invasion could give Talos a larger role in the universe.
The MCU’s Earth Could Be Crawling With Skrulls
In keeping with the source material, Secret Invasion will reveal the Skrulls to have infiltrated every corner of human society. Fury’s investigation could reveal that the MCU’s Earth is crawling with Skrulls.
There could be world leaders and powerful public figures who are secretly Skrulls in disguise. The series could significantly change the Earth of the MCU, which is already post-apocalyptic.
Introducing The Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four are set to join the MCU in their own movie directed by Jon Watts, but it doesn’t yet have a release date. Marvel’s first family might be introduced into the MCU in another project before enjoying their own adventures.
The team is crucial to the Secret Invasion comic book storyline, as transporting the Baxter Building to the Negative Zone is a big part of the Skrulls’ destabilization of Earth’s superhero population.
Nick Fury Could Assemble A New Avengers Team
When Tony Stark sacrificed himself to save the universe and Steve Rogers disappeared into the past to enjoy a peaceful life, the Avengers disbanded. But since making Avengers movies is like printing money, Earth’s mightiest heroes will surely be back.
Nick Fury was the architect of the Avengers Initiative and he could take it upon himself to assemble a new Avengers team – Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, Sam Wilson’s Cap, Jane Foster’s Mighty Thor, etc. – to combat the Skrull invasion.