How Secret Invasion’s Shocking Ending Can Set Up These 8 Upcoming MCU Movies
Adapting one of the most intriguing yet controversial storylines in Marvel Comics, the MCU version of Secret Invasion just fails to impress the audience with its sloppy writing, unnecessary deaths, and questionable twists. However, there’s no denying that the TV series display an important event in Phase 5 of the MCU, and its ending has perfectly set up the events for multiple future entries.
In the final episode, we witness the birth of a new powerful superhero: G’iah, Talos’s daughter, who gains powers from different MCU heroes thanks to The Harvest, and defeats Gravik at the end. With the rebel faction crumbles, President Ritson deems all off-world species as hostile, and orders to hunt down the rest of the Skrulls on Earth. Let’s see how this ending of Secret Invasion set up these 8 potential MCU titles in the future.
#1. The Marvels
Source: Marvel
As it’s confirmed by Feige, the events in the upcoming movie The Marvels will continue what happened in Secret Invasion, with Fury and the Skrulls making their return. The series finale sees Nick Fury return to his outer space base with his Skrull wife, Varra to negotiate for peace between the shapeshifting species and the Kree, who they fought earlier in Captain Marvel.
As The Marvels trailer shows, Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau will encounter Fury soon in outer space as their abilities intertwined, so we can expect the Avengers’ director and the Skrulls will have a favorable role in the upcoming movie.
#2. Armor Wars
Source: Marvel
Secret Invasion features one of the biggest twists in Marvel history so far, with James Rhodes, aka War Machine, who turns out to be a Skrull impostor all along. Nobody knows exactly when the character was swapped, but many pieces of evidence suggest he was replaced right after Captain America: Civil War.
If this turns out to be true, Secret Invasion has raised many questions for the upcoming Armor Wars to answer: How will Rhodey cope with his best friend Tony Stark’s demise in Endgame? Did the real him vanish in the Blip? How will he resume his identity as the War Machine? We’ll have to wait to find out.
#3. Captain America: Brave New World
Source: Marvel
There’s an interesting detail about Secret Invasion, with Ritson still retaining his position as the President of the United States at the end of the series, but in the upcoming Captain America sequel, Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross is confirmed to be the next Commander-in-chief. At the start of Brave New World could see how Thunderbolt Ross dethrones Ritson, as the latter’s decision to drive away the Skrull wasn't appreciated by Fury in Secret Invasion.
Also, while highly unlikely, the movie could also see Sam Wilson’s effort in stopping the US government’s attempt to hunt down the rest of the Skrulls on Earth, considering the previous Captain’s relationship with Fury.
#4. Thunderbolts
Source: Marvel
Secret Invasion didn’t end on a happy note, as a massacre happens at the finale, with humans and Skrulls dying fighting each other due to Ritson’s controversial declaration. This could be the perfect chance for the Thunderbolts to step in, as de Fontaine’s team doesn’t shy away from any killing if they are given the orders.
#5. Black Panther 3
Source: Marvel
So far, a potential threequel about Shuri and the Wakandan isn’t on the table for the studio yet, but they’ll definitely make a return in the MCU. Secret Invasion has revealed that Everett Ross, who was rescued by Okoye at the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, is also a victim of the Skrulls’ kidnapping, and wakes up in the Skrulls’ hideout at the end of the series.
Black Panther 3 could clear some questions regarding this matter by confirming if Ross in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was the real Everett Ross or not.
#6. Thor 5
Source: Marvel
It may be a bit too early to talk about Thor 5 right now, as we had to wait 4 years for Love and Thunder, however Secret Invasion has set up the perfect setting for the fifth installment. Following Ritson’s declaration deeming all alien species as hostile, human hunters are now roaming the Earth to search for off-world beings, which also include the Asgardians.
With this new turn of events, Thor 5 can see the God of Thunder making his return to Earth to protect his people, and delve further into the Asgardian’s struggle to choose between humans and his own kind.
#7. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
Source: Marvel
Secret Invasion introduces us to The Harvest – a collection of DNA samples from every hero and off-world species who participated in the Battle of Earth. This very serum has turned both Gravik and G’iah into Super-Skrulls. This sly move by Nick Fury might not sit well with the other Avengers, and the start of The Kang Dynasty could see the heroes confronting Fury about what he did.
Besides, with G’iah now one of the strongest super beings around, she would make a good candidate in the Avengers’ current roster to battle against the Council of Kangs, as they are said to be very powerful and vary in numbers.
#8. Secret Invasion 2
Source: Marvel
As mentioned above, Secret Invasion’s ending has two major plot points: Firstly, it introduces G’iah, the most powerful being on Earth currently, and secondly, Ritson’s bill to claim every inhuman species to be hostile, leading to many innocent and unnecessary deaths.
After defeating Gravik, the new heroine makes a deal with Sonya Falsworth to protect Earth from external forces with her newfound abilities, and in return, the latter will aid her in saving the rest of the Skrulls of Earth from extermination. A potential Secret Invasion 2 could focus on this plotline, however with the first series’ poor reception, Marvel Studios might not want to take another bet with a sequel.
What other MCU titles do you think Secret Invasion can set up? Let us know in the comment.