Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Spider-Man: Far From Home sets up how the Marvel Cinematic Universe can do its own Secret Invasion storyline, but in reverse. The 23rd movie in the MCU is now out in theaters and even though the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man (Tom Holland) is the lead character, his second solo film appears to lay the foundation for one of Marvel Comics' biggest stories to be adapted (with a twist) on the big screen.
Secret Invasion is a Marvel crossover event storyline that began in 2008. Created by Brian Michael Bendis, the eight-part series centers around the shape-shifting alien race known as Skrulls. It is revealed that they have slowly infiltrated Earth and replaced key figures across the world. Their targets included government officials and other people of power, but they also took the place of some superheroes. This was done to allow for the Skrulls to have an easier path to orchestrate an actual invasion and take over the planet. However, the Avengers learn what the Skrulls have done and eventually stop them, rescuing all of the people who have been misplaced.
The surprising nature of the Secret Invasion story has made it one that many have been hoping will be adapted in the MCU one day. This is why the introduction of the Skrulls in Captain Marvel was viewed as a big deal for the future of the universe. However, it threw something of a curveball: the shape-shifters started as evil characters in the cosmic film, but it was revealed shortly after that they are a peaceful race looking to find a new home. The movie ended with Captain Marvel escorting them back to space to find a planet of their own, but Spider-Man: Far From Home shows that the plan, eventually, changed.
Spider-Man: Far From Home Reveals Skrulls Have Infiltrated Post-Endgame Earth
During the Spider-Man: Far From Home post-credits scene, viewers are taken back to Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders). They are driving together after previously roping Spider-Man into their mission and watching him save the world. To the surprise of everyone, Hill then begins to transform into a Skrull. The surprise doesn't stop there, as Fury becomes a Skrull too, specifically Talos (Ben Mendelsohn). The reveal confirms that the versions of Fury and Hill featured throughout Spider-Man: Far From Home are not the regular versions, but instead that they've been Skrulls the whole time.
Skrulls taking the place of Fury and Hill - two incredibly knowledgable agents with plenty of confidential access - is a big deal on the surface. It shows that the Skrulls could take over as some of the most prominent characters around, and no one would know the difference. However, Talos and his wife do not have evil intentions with these new disguises. They haven't taken up these lives as part of some larger plan to take over Earth. Instead, they are attempting to stabilize it in a post-Avengers: Endgame world, with the significance of their return highlighted when we learn that they have been instructed to do just this.
Nick Fury Is In Space With The Skrulls
Talos and the other Skrull are only posing as Fury and Hill because that's what Nick Fury wants them to do. They send him a message about what has happened recently, and after momentarily being led to believe he's on the beach relaxing, it is revealed that he is in space. Not only is he back in the cosmos, but he is also with the alien race he befriended decades ago. Its the most relaxed Fury has ever looked, but he is preparing for is a potentially even bigger threat in the future. Whatever new cosmic threat is on the horizon, Fury and the Skrulls are building a base of operation for them to be ready.
The big takeaway here is that Fury has now moved his focus from Earthly threats to intergalactic ones. Thanos wasn't even remotely on his radar, and after briefly journeying to space in Captain Marvel, it is now where he resides. It also implies that he and Talos are still close. Based on the limited knowledge we have of Captain Marvel's whereabouts for the last 20+ years in the MCU, Talos and Fury have likely only recently been reacquainted. Unfortunately, we don't know what the status of Hill is after this scene. She likely is with Fury in space if a Skrull had to take her place on Earth.
Either way, the switch of Fury and Hill being replaced by Skrulls and moving to space came after Avengers: Endgame, and it shows that humanity is still aligned with the Skrulls as allies.
Spider-Man: Far From Home Also Teases Kree Cells On Earth
The Skrulls are on Earth and working with Fury, but Spider-Man: Far From Home doesn't stop there in revealing other aliens are located here. Earlier in the movie, the Talos version of Fury mentions that cells of Kree aliens now inhabit Earth. The line feels like a throwaway piece of dialogue in the moment, but knowing that the Skrulls are the ones complaining/worrying about them being on the planet makes more sense. Talos specifically has had quite a difficult time with the Kree in the past, as shown in Captain Marvel, so he would be especially opposed to the idea that they are nearby.
That said, we also do not know the current state of Skrull-Kree relations. They may be longtime enemies, but the Kree have become more peaceful in the time after Captain Marvel as far MCU canon suggests. They agreed to a peace treaty with Xandar in Guardians of the Galaxy, so maybe a similar deal is in place with Earth. Then again, this could be another zealot clan - similar to Ronan's - who have more extensive plans.
Regardless, this is far from the first time the Kree have come to Earth. Mar-Vell came to Earth several decades ago, Yon-Rogg and the Starforce arrived in 1995, and several different members of the race have visited according to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Now that they have returned once more in smaller cells, is this part of a bigger plan?
Does Far From Home Set Up A Reverse Secret Invasion?
To recap, Spider-Man: Far From Home establishes that the current state of the MCU has Kree secretly hiding out on Earth with unknown intentions and the Skrulls working with Nick Fury. Based on their current actions and what they've done in the past, the MCU appears ready to continue pushing the Skrulls forward as good guys and make the Kree bad guys. This inverse of the comics has led to many giving up on the idea that Secret Invasion is on the way, but Spider-Man: Far From Home may be instead setting up a reverse telling of this story.
The potential for a reverse Secret Invasion story is based around the idea of these Kree cells popping up on Earth. While the alien race is usually best known for their blue-skinned look, they also have "Pink Kree" that look identical to humans. These Kree could be planting themselves on Earth intending to overthrow establishments and take over the planet. They don't have the shape-shifting abilities of their green alien enemies, but they can blend in the traditional sense with their looks.
This would allow the MCU to do Secret Invasion while avoiding a long-standing comic issue. While many are attached to the idea of a reveal that certain characters are Skrulls and have been for several years, that is a risky decision to make for Marvel. It would eliminate any character work done during the time that the characters in question were Skrulls. Maintaining character arcs and previous stories should be the primary goal in any storyline, so it is best for the MCU to not go down the "X has been a Skrull the whole time" route. This different approach also presents the MCU with the ability to have more fun with the Skrull's shape-shifting abilities if they choose; they can transform to help, not hinder, the heroes.
Related: Every Marvel Movie Coming After Spider-Man: Far From Home
A reverse Secret Invasion storyline could also pay off what is currently a dangling tease from the end of Captain Marvel. When Carol stops the Kree invasion all by herself, Ronan promises that they would return for her. He cannot do that after dying in Guardians of the Galaxy, but the fate of Yon-Rogg is still up in the air. Maybe he could be the one leading the charge on such an invasion with the hope to destroy Earth and its many powerful heroes so the Kree Empire can rise to dominance once again. If any version of the Secret Invasion story does come to pass, then it was set up here in Spider-Man: Far From Home.