In order to understand the new Marvel series “Secret Invasion,” you definitely need to have seen an MCU film in advance. We’ll tell you what’s really important.
The Marvel series “Secret Invasion,” starring Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, begins streaming on Disney+ on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. In this new MCU series, the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director returns to protect the world against a secret Skrull invasion. It has been a few years since we last saw Nick Fury on screen. With the large number of films and series that have been released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) by now, it’s easy to lose track. Whether Nick Fury can stay one step ahead of evil in his latest mission remains to be seen. So, to help you keep track of the events and characters in “Secret Invasion,” we’ll provide you with the most important details about the Marvel films that are particularly relevant to the new series.
“Captain Marvel” The 2019 film “Captain Marvel,” the first solo film based on the superhero of the same name, tells the backstory of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) and Nick Fury in 1995. It primarily focuses on the Skrulls’ initial arrival on Earth. Since “Secret Invasion” can be seen as a kind of sequel to “Captain Marvel” (part 2, titled “The Marvels,” will be released in cinemas on November 8, 2023), it’s essential to have seen this film before diving into the new MCU series.
In “Captain Marvel,” a young Nick Fury, who was still at the beginning of his career as an agent at S.H.I.E.L.D., teams up with Carol Danvers to track down a suspected Skrull alien terrorist named Talos (Ben Mendelsohn). However, they discover that the shape-shifting alien and his family – his wife Soren and young daughter G’iah – have become victims of the Kree invasion, and the shape-shifting Skrulls are now refugees searching for a new safe home. Fury and Carol work together to protect the Skrulls and promise to find them a new home planet.
As revealed in the trailer for “Secret Invasion,” this promise has not yet been fulfilled. The main conflict of the new MCU series revolves around the Skrulls becoming tired of waiting for Fury’s promise and infiltrating Earth using their shape-shifting abilities to take over the planet.
“Spider-Man: Far From Home” (Post-Credit Scene) If you don’t want to rewatch Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) second solo adventure in “Spider-Man: Far From Home” entirely, it’s still worth revisiting the film’s post-credits scene. This scene provides an exciting revelation about Nick Fury and the Skrulls.
While Nick Fury and fellow agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) make appearances in “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” the post-credits scene reveals that Talos and his wife Soren had actually been posing as the agent duo all along. However, their intentions are not malicious. Talos and Fury are now allies, and Fury’s absence is explained as him embarking on a secret mission in space with other Skrulls, presumably in search of a new home for the aliens.
However, in “Secret Invasion,” the renewed encounter with the Skrulls may not be as peaceful anymore. Will the friendly alliance between Fury and Talos survive? Additionally, “Secret Invasion” will likely shed light on Maria Hill’s whereabouts while being portrayed by Talos’ wife.
If you simply want to refresh your memory or are solely interested in the Marvel events directly relevant to “Secret Invasion,” these two films are enough to grasp the storyline.
However, since all films, series, and characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are more or less connected and build on each other, it may be worth catching up on any missed films or reviewing the details again.
Other relevant Marvel films and characters To better understand the character of Nick Fury as the founder of the Avengers and former director of S.H.I.E.L.D., it’s best to have seen the “Avengers” films, as well as leading solo films like “Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” and their respective sequels. For example, in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” we learn why Nick Fury rarely trusts people and get insight into his relationship with Maria Hill. “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame” are particularly essential for every Marvel fan, but beyond that, these movies provide a better understanding of what happened to Nick Fury and why he’s returning after the blip caused by Thanos.
Through the Avengers movies, we also get to know Colonel James “Rhodey” Rupert Rhodes, also known as War Machine (last played by Don Cheadle), and Agent Maria Hill, who will also play roles in “Secret Invasion.” Another important character in the new MCU series is Agent Everett Ross, whom we first met in “Black Panther” and most recently in “Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever.” The “Black Panther” films also delve into Vibranium, the most powerful and valuable material on Earth, and how Wakanda deals with opening its resources to the world. As the world becomes aware of this power, the Vibranium controversy adds to the politically tense post-blip world situation, making these films relevant for a better overall understanding of “Secret Invasion” (which is set in the current present of the MCU, likely 2025).
Another connection to the Skrulls is made at the end of the “WandaVision” series. In the mid-credit scene, Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) encounters a supposed FBI agent who turns out to be a Skrull posing as a woman. The Skrull reveals that an old friend of Monica’s mother wants to meet her. When Monica asks where this person wants to meet, the stranger points upwards. At this point, neither Monica nor the viewers find out who is behind this mysterious person, but all signs point to Nick Fury, who, as revealed in the “Spider-Man: Far From Home” post-credits scene, was working with the Skrulls on a spaceship. This scene could potentially indicate a meeting in “Secret Invasion.”
Of course, what exactly awaits us in “Secret Invasion” remains exciting, as Nick Fury and the Skrulls have shown us that appearances can be deceiving. With this information, however, you are better prepared for the new MCU series than humanity is for a Skrull invasion. You can simply let the rest unfold with the series launch of “Secret Invasion” starting on June 21, with weekly episodes streaming on Disney+.
You can stream all the important films and series in the MCU on Disney+. If you don’t have a subscription to the streaming service yet, you can secure your membership here. If you’re curious in advance, there’s a secret trick you can use to preview the opening minutes of “Secret Invasion.”
