Secret Invasion could be the reassuring win that Marvel needs right now
Marvel could re-earn our trust with its latest TV offering
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Secret Invasion’s official trailer has landed online – and I’m confident that the new show will be the reassuring win thatMarvelneeds right now.
TheMarvel Phase 5series, which debuts onDisney Pluson June 21 (and confirms our report aboutMarvel accidentally leakingSecret Invasion’s release date ahead of schedule), will be the first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) show released this year. With its launch date just under three months away, then, it’s about time we were treated to some new footage.
Pleasingly,Secret Invasion’s latest teaser is packed full of new clips to pore over. Whisper it quietly, but it seems like it’s going to be one of thebest Disney Plus showsaround, too. Check out the official trailer below:
A brief plot synopsis was released alongside the trailer, which reads: “In Marvel Studios’ new seriesSecret Invasion, set in the present day MCU, Nick Fury learns of a clandestine invasion of Earth by a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls. Fury joins his allies, including Everett Ross, Maria Hill, and the Skrull Talos, who has made a life for himself on Earth. Together, they race against time to thwart an imminent Skrull invasion and save humanity.”
Tonally,Secret Invasionis giving me (and plenty of other MCU fans) similar vibes toCaptain America: The Winter Soldier. Given the duo’s espionage and conspiracy thriller sensibilities, it’s an easy comparison to make. But, considering thatThe Winter Soldieris one of the more well-receivedMarvelfilms in the studio’s 15-year history – read ourbest Marvel moviesranked guide while you’re here – it might seem a stretch to suggestSecret Invasionwill be as good, if not better, than Cap’s second solo outing.
For me, though, Secret Invasion has the potential to be as tense, action-packed, and narratively distorting asThe Winter Soldier.
It’s got all the necessary ingredients. First, a secret society of Skrulls that’s looking to supersede humanity by masquerading as the very race they want to overthrow. Secondly, a seemingly out-of-his-depth Nick Fury who is going to be second-guessing every decision he makes in this six-part series. Next, plenty of political paranoia as, thanks to the Skrulls' shapeshifting abilities, the show’s human heroes won’t know who they can trust and/or if those in positions of power are actually human or not. And, with explosions aplenty – both physical and those of the suspense-filled conversation variety – there are bound to be major ramifications for the MCU, based on what plays out from a story perspective.
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UntilCaptain America: The Winter Soldierwas released in 2014, Marvel had safely stuck to its genre lane, with its movies entrenched in the superhero and action categories.The Winter Soldierproved that Marvel could (and should) broaden its scope and ground some of thebest superhero moviesin different genres.Captain America 2showed audiences would lap this kind of content up – and ifSecret Invasionis as gritty, foreboding, and twisting as its trailers make out, we’re in for a real treat.
That said, even ifSecret Invasionwows us – and I’m planting my flag in the sand right now to say it will – will it have enough to usurpLokiseason 1,WandaVision, andMoon Knight(the latter being my favorite MCU Disney Plus series so far) in people’s minds?
It’s hard to judge based on a two-minute trailer, but it certainly has the potential to do so; and ifSecret Invasionis a success, it could be the big relief-inducing win Marvel needs right now.
Make no mistake, the Disney subsidiary is going through the wringer at the moment.Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniafailed to get Phase 5 off to the best possible start, with the Ant-Man threequel failing to deliver both critically and commercially (read ourAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania reviewfor more on what we thought). With Marvel’s entire Phase 4 lineup labeled as a mixed bag,Quantumaniahas only heightened suggestions that the MCU isn’t what it was.
That’s not all that Marvel has had to contend with in recent months. The studio has reportedly had to revise its output of movies and TV shows, withMarvel potentially only releasing two Disney Plus shows, plus three movies, in 2023. That’s a rumored plan it’ll carry forward into the next few years, too. Add in the apparent firing of longstanding Marvel executive Victoria Alonso over breach of contract allegations, plus the arrest ofKang the Conqueroractor Jonathan Majors over domestic abuse allegations, and Marvel is having to fight off multiple crises at once for the first time in its history.
Secret Invasion, as well asGuardians of the Galaxy 3(which arrives on May 5), has the potential to alleviate some of the negative press aimed in Marvel’s direction in the coming months. The studio needs one (or more) of its projects to win back support from its feverish fanbase, prove that it’s still capable of dominating the box office, and capture audiences' attention on the small screen. Marvel will hope, then, that Secret Invasion ahem invades as many TV screens as possible later this year.
Secret Invasionstars Samuel L Jackson, Ben Mendolsohn, Cobie Smulders, Martin Freeman, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Charlene Woodard, Killian Scott, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, and Don Cheadle. The TV series launches on Disney Plus on Wednesday, June 21.
For more MCU-based coverage, find outhow to watch the Marvel movies in order. Additionally, read our guides onLokiseason 2andThe Marvels.
As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.
An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as thisMoon Knight TV spot.
Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across.
Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.
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