‘Daredevil: Begin Again’ was supposed to be Marvel triumphantly proving it can take a character that has been brought to TV screens elsewhere (Cox played the character for three seasons and the ‘Defenders’ team-up limited series on Netflix, produced by a different Marvel small-screen team).
Commissioned from writers Chris Ord and Matt Corman, it was set for a mammoth 18-episode shoot and cameras started rolling back in March. Less than half the episodes had been filmed when the writers’ strike closed down production, but that was far from the only issue.
In the Reporter’s story, there is mention that the executives screened the available footage and didn’t like where the show was headed, including the fact that Cox allegedly didn’t show up in costume as Daredevil until episode four.
Which, we must admit, is surprising, because you have to assume the team signed off on the scripts, and the character’s actions would have been apparent on the page.
Now, a big overhaul is planned, with Ord and Corman out and the directors hired for the season also let go. The search is on for new writers and directors to bring the show more closely in alignment with Marvel’s thinking once Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio (reprising his role as classic Daredevil villain the Kingpin from the Netflix version, having also appeared in the MCU’s ‘Hawkeye’ series) and the other cast can return to work with the resolution of the actors’ strike.
Much of the acquired footage will be repurposed and new storylines added.
This is far from the first of the MCU-linked series to see problems behind the scenes. The Reporter’s story also mentions that ‘Moon Knight’ head writer Jeremy Slater quit the show, with main director Mohamed Diab taking on more of the creative workload.
On ‘She-Hulk’, show creator and writer Jessica Gao was largely sidelined once director Kat Coiro came on to oversee a production that suffered with Covid issues. But unlike Slater, Gao was brought back in during post-production to finish the series.
And perhaps the most chaotic example –– which can truly be seen on screen –– is ‘Secret Invasion’, which suffered a revolving door of creative teams even through pre-production, with the back-and-forth even threatening to foil the series completely as schedule changes meant cast could have been unavailable.
The result? One of the worst-reviewed and least-watched Marvel TV series to land on Disney+.
It’s clear Marvel is struggling to adapt its successful movie method to TV despite aiming to change how shows are produced.
From the sounds of it, the plan now is to switch back to a more traditional process, including working up pilots and show bibles instead of cranking out whole first seasons of series at big expense.
Cast and crew of Marvel Studios’ ‘Secret Invasion’ at the red carpet premiere.
‘Secret Invasion’ is coming soon to Disney+, a series based on the popular comic book storyline where the shape-shifting species the Skrulls invade Earth. This is also the first Marvel TV series in MCU’s Phase Five.
The official synopsis for ‘Secret Invasion’ is:
“In Secret Invasion, set in the present-day MCU, 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.”
The series is directed by Ali Selim, who directed all six episodes. ‘Secret Invasion’ will premiere on Disney+ on June 21st, 2023.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of attending the global virtual press conference for ‘Secret Invasion’. Talent and filmmakers in attendance were Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, producer Jonathan Schwartz, director Ali Selim, Samuel L Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Cobie Smulders, Emilia Clarke, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Olivia Colman, and Don Cheadle.
Here are 10 things we learned from the ‘Secret Invasion’ virtual press conference:
1. Where does ‘Secret Invasion’ take place in the MCU timeline?
Producer Jonathan Schwartz elaborated on how the show fits into MCU’s phase 5 and where it lands in the MCU timeline.
Jonathan Schwartz: It is present day MCU, that’s what we’re calling it. It exists basically along that timeline, along the timeline that the show’s coming out in. Post ‘She-Hulk’, post Blip, right at this exact present day in the MCU. I think that’s all I can say.
2. How the Idea for the ‘Secret Invasion’ Series Came About And How It Differs From The Comics
(L to R) Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and director Ali Selim at the red carpet premiere of Marvel Studios’ ‘Secret Invasion.’
Kevin Feige recounts the first time he visited the idea of taking the ‘Secret Invasion’ storyline and turning it into a series.
Kevin Feige: I think if you really go back, it did start on ‘Captain Marvel’, even if it wasn’t a ‘Secret Invasion’ idea yet. I think it was the idea that there was more to do with this relationship and with these two characters, with Nick and with Talos. Then the Disney+ doors opened up, and we got the opportunity to play in more genres and expand the sandbox of what we can do. That made ‘Secret Invasion’ by itself a story that had great source material behind it and was a comic event that a lot of people knew and responded to, and was a very cool genre specifically for these two characters. I think that’s what really brought the show to life.
He also touches on how the series will differ from the comic book.
Kevin Feige: We knew we weren’t going to have every character in the Marvel Universe the way it is in the comics. It really was to focus on Sam Jackson and really to focus on this ensemble that you see here today in that, as we said, political thriller aspect to it. We had an amazing group of writers and our amazing director who helped to shepherd it all.
As for which upcoming MCU projects ‘Secret Invasion’ will lead into such as ‘Armor Wars’ or ‘The Marvels’:
Kevin Feige: You’ve named some of them. Yes. I mean, the repercussions will be felt in coming projects.
3. What inspired them to make ‘Secret Invasion’ as a darker, grittier spy-thriller show?
Kevin Feige: Jonathan came into my office a number of years ago, when we were thinking about what kinds of shows to do on Disney+, and he came in with this idea of translating the great ‘Secret Invasion’ storyline from the comics into a darker, grittier spy show, which we hadn’t done. We love to do different genres for everything. This was an attempt to really dive back into things we touched upon in ‘Winter Soldier’, but hadn’t in a while. Really delving into the tone of a spy show and seeing a very different dynamic between Fury and Talos than we had seen in our 90s buddy action movie, ‘Captain Marvel.’
4. The Current State Of Nick Fury In ‘Secret Invasion’
Samuel L. Jackson at the red carpet premiere of Marvel Studios’ ‘Secret Invasion.’
Nick Fury has been involved in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the beginning – from ‘Iron Man’ in 2008. Fury has been through thick and thin with the Avengers and Thanos’ snap. Samuel L. Jackson talks about where his character is in this series.
Samuel L. Jackson: This is my second appearance post-snap, and he’s been gone for a while. He is a little tired, a little vulnerable, but he’s coming back to Earth because he’s been summoned, and we’ll see what happens. He’s got a bad knee now, and he’s not so happy.
Through the series, the audience will get the chance to learn more about Nicky Fury, the actor mentions that the more we find out about him, the more we’ll like him.
Samuel L. Jackson: We get new information. We go to his house. You got to watch to find out if I live in a condo or a real house, and see if I have a yard. That stuff. What furniture does Nick Fury have? Does he have an island in his kitchen? Can he cook?
5. What is Rhodey’s relationship like with Nick Fury in the series?
James “Rhodey” Rhodes (played by Don Cheadle) will appear in the series. The actor talks about what Rhodey has been up to and his relationship with Nick Fury.
Don Cheadle: I think we’re just finding out what’s happening with Rhodey as this series goes on. He’s in a different role. We see him as more of a political animal than we have in the past. He’s been more of the military man, but now he’s in some ways the right hand of the President and the special envoy in that regard. But I think what I’m looking forward to is just seeing more, getting under the hood of who he is, and seeing how this relationship, not only with Nick Fury but the other cast members evolves. Again, as Ben (Mendelsohn) said, no spoilers, but it’s going to be some fun stuff.
Samuel L. Jackson chimes in about never having any in-depth scenes with Cheadle until this series.
Samuel L. Jackson: We’ve been waiting to do this for years and years and years. It was wonderful to do and to have that little abrasive thing happen there. It’s great and nice to know that we have that relationship, or I assumed it was that.
Don Cheadle: I’ve known Sam for a long time and we’ve spent a lot of time talking about what it would be like to work together, looking for projects to do together. The central relationship between myself and Sam, and this was very important to me, and I was very glad to be brought on. I don’t think it was originally conceived that Rhodey was going to be in this, but when it came to me and Sam called, I was really excited about leaning into it. Also, being in a show like this that’s really a departure from what I have been in as far as the genre goes. It’s really an opportunity to act and really lean into some human stuff, which was also a lot of fun. As Emilia said, as Olivia said, as Kingsley said, as Ben said, this is a great cast. Ali was a great director, a great leader. It was just all upside, and I was very happy to look into who Rhodey is and to probe that more and find out what really makes him tick.
Cobie Smulders reprises her role as agent Maria Hill in the spy-thriller series, and talks about Maria’s relationship with Fury and what it’s like to work with Samuel L. Jackson
Cobie Smulders: Working with Sam is my favorite thing, it’s true. It was really exciting to come back. But speaking again about strain, I think the relationship is quite strained because she’s been calling, and he hasn’t been answering.
The actress touches on how Maria Hill was also affected by the Blip and how that affected her state-of-mind.
Cobie Smulders: I think Maria Hill came back and someone else was sitting in her desk, and immediately kicked them out and got to work. I think there was just a mountain of cases to get to, which is a part of her resentment toward Fury because he was not around.
Jackson added:
Samuel L Jackson: Well, yeah, it definitely has a mental health effect on you, and it causes a different rift between you and the people that you’ve been around or people that you’re supposed to be close to. I mean, like I said, I hadn’t been returning her calls. There are a few other people that I hadn’t been calling back either.
Olivia Colman joins the cast of ‘Secret Invasion’ as Sonya Falsworth. The actress talks about being a part of the MCU, who Sonya is, and her dynamic with Nick Fury.
Olivia Colman: After every Marvel film that landed in cinemas, I phoned my agent and said, “Please, could I be in a Marvel movie.” Finally, either she got fed up of me calling her, or it happened. It wasn’t why ‘Secret Invasion’? ‘Secret Invasion’ called, and without any mention of the word “Marvel” I went, “Yes, please.” That’s why. I had an absolute ball and it lived up to everything that I was hoping for.
On the dynamic between Sonya and Nick Fury:
Olivia Colman: I was just so excited to meet Samuel L. Jackson. They have a lovely friendship, although she does quite like to bully you with her heavies. It doesn’t strike me as much of a friendship, but they’ve got history. They trust each other, which I think I’m allowed to say.
Coleman talks a little more about who Sonya is:
Olivia Colman: Sonya works for MI6. She likes wearing red and she’s quite funny and she’s potentially a little bit not that nice sometimes.
Samuel L. Jackson adds:
Samuel L. Jackson: And possibly the most dangerous woman in the UK. She lives in a dark corner of the UK and nobody can access it.
Another newcomer to the MCU is Emilia Clarke, who is no stranger to major franchises and being tight-lipped on spoilers. The actress talks about her experience working with Ben Mendelsohn, given the relationship between the two characters.
Emilia Clarke: I just love Ben. I love working with Ben. It was so much fun. It was really easy because obviously, we are playing. There’s tension all over the shop, but there is obviously a deep familiarity, shorthand and knowledge of each other that it’s just so easy and free acting with Ben, and it was just gorgeous.
Mendelsohn remained cryptic on where we find Talos in the series, but he touches on the current mindset of Talos and his relationship with Nick Fury.
Ben Mendelsohn: We’re finding Talos in a difficult time. It’s a bad time. By the way, (Nick Fury) up there? We could have used him. I’m just saying he’s been away a bit, the mate, you know?
Played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, Gravik is a Skrull and an original character created for the series. The actor talks about exploring this brand-new character.
Kingsley Ben-Adir: I think we had many conversations for hours at the beginning. I guess like Gravik, I didn’t really trust why anything was coming to me, but he just felt like a part that I hadn’t been approached for before. There was an opportunity to do something a little bit different with this one. I just wanted to make him as unsentimental as possible. There’s something interesting about how much he hates Nick, and that was really enticing.
10. ‘Secret Invasion’ is not just a superhero story
(L to R) Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ben Mendelsohn, Samuel L. Jackson, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, Don Cheadle, Cobie Smulders, Dermot Mulroney, and director Ali Selim at the red carpet premiere of Marvel Studios’ ‘Secret Invasion.’
Director Ali Selim talks about the inspiration for the tone of the show
Ali Selim: Well, I think it’s a very human show. It’s the Nick Fury story. He’s a human. He does have his own version of superpowers, but they’re not like superhero superpowers. It’s a story about him putting his feet back on the ground once again after some time. I like that because I like human stories that come from the heart, and are human-scaled and reach for a universal appeal rather than the reverse of that. I liked the espionage political thriller element, and we went back to look at ‘The Third Man’ and ‘The Conversation’ and things like that, that are very grounded, real and human. I hope that we brought enough of that to create the tone. Then, without a spoiler alert, I think there is a point in the story where Nick Fury realizes this is his own battle, and he becomes a classic American Western hero. The tone shifted in the later episodes to Nick Fury as John Wayne.
Director Ali Selim speaks more about how the series delves into human emotions and the personal and inner life of Nick Fury.
Ali Selim: Well, I think it’s the script which was brilliantly written. I think it’s the fact that it’s the Nick Fury story rather than a superhero story. I think it’s the fact that it really tried to delve into very simple human emotions like trust and suspicion, and the personal life of Nick Fury and the inner life of Nick Fury. It’s very different than people flying through the air.
Samuel L Jackson: See, but I don’t think it’s just a Nick Fury story because we got all these other interesting people that are flowing around through it. It’s a Gravik story, it’s Emilia’s story, and it’s Olivia’s story. It’s all these people that are being introduced that make you want to say, well, I want to go home with them too and see what’s happening.
‘Secret Invasion’ premieres with its first episode on Disney+ on June 21, 2023.
Premiering on Disney+ beginning June 21st is the new six-episode Marvel series ‘Secret Invasion,’ which is based on the popular comic book storyline of the same name and is the first MCU series of Phase Five.
What is the plot of ‘Secret Invasion’?
In Marvel Studios’ new series ‘Secret Invasion,’ set in the present day MCU, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) learns of a clandestine invasion of Earth by a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls. Fury joins his allies, including Everett Ross (Martin Freeman), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) and the Skrull Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), who has made a life for himself on Earth. Together they race against time to thwart an imminent Skrull invasion and save humanity.
In the first two episodes, ‘Secret Invasion’ sets up an interesting character-driven espionage thriller that captures the paranoia of the original comic book storyline. Much like ‘Captain America: Civil War’ the new series is only an adaption in the broadest strokes, using the well-established Marvel Cinematic Universe as a launching-off point for a similar but not exactly identical story. Returning MCU actors Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn lead a strong ensemble cast, which also includes a charming and delightful performance from Oscar-winner Olivia Colman.
2008’s ‘Secret Invasion’ was a groundbreaking Marvel Comics crossover event that saw the Marvel heroes fighting a war with the shapeshifting alien race known as the Skrulls, who had systematically over the course of several years secretly invaded Earth by replacing many well-known Marvel characters, including members of The Avengers and the X-Men. The tagline for the series was: “Who do you trust?”
Marvel studios takes a smaller, yet similar approach with Disney+’s ‘Secret Invasion,’ which is not on as big a scale as the overreaching comic book storyline was. Instead, the series wisely takes only the idea from the comic book and then applies it to what has already been established in the MCU, similar to other Marvel “adaptions” like ‘Civil War.’ The series is more of an espionage thriller like ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier,’ and is surprisingly very character-driven with some of its best moments coming from exploring Nick Fury and Talos’ long friendship as established in ‘Captain Marvel.’
The series begins with an American spy confronting a well-known MCU character with his theory that the Skrulls that Fury secretly let live on Earth have formed a terrorist organization that has infiltrated the highest ranks in governments across the world and plans to take the planet for their own. After laughing off this possibility, the MCU character is revealed to be a Skrull, and kills the agent. We then cut to Talos (Mendelsohn) who is working with Maria Hill (Smulders), and quickly contact Nick Fury (Jackson) to return to Earth from space, where he has been since the Blip (following the events of ‘Avengers: Endgame’).
Once reunited with Talos and Hill, Fury learns that Talos has been fired from the Skrull council, and that a Skrull named Gravik (Ben-Adir) is the leader of the terrorists, which also includes Talos’ daughter G’iah (Clarke) as a member. Talos learns of where Gravik is planning his next attack, while Fury visits an old ally, high-ranking MI6 agent Sonya Falsworth (Colman), but she is unwilling to work with him and tells Fury to stand down.
Fury, Talos and Hill try to stop the attack but fail. Fury is blamed internationally instead and soon learns that there are more Skrulls on Earth than he previously believed. Not knowing who to trust, Fury reaches out to James Rhodes (Cheadle), and warns him of the impending invasion, but the US government wants to wash its hands of Fury. Meanwhile, we learn that Fury has a secret of his own, and so does Gravik, who is working on an experiment to make Skrulls stronger.
The long friendship, as established in ‘Captain Marvel,’ between Fury and Talos is at the heart of the series. In the first two episodes, the series digs deep into their past showing us post-‘Captain Marvel’ moments that better explains the long alliance between Fury and the Skrulls, and the secret betrayals from both sides that have led to this moment. Some of the best moments of the first two episodes are the quitter, character-driven scenes that dive into that relationship and both characters’ pasts.
Samuel L. Jackson definitely leads the series with his commanding gravitas, and after more than a decade of playing the character in a supporting role, it’s nice to see Jackson and Fury front and center of this story. Make no mistakes, this is Sam Jackson’s series! But Ben Mendelsohn is equally good as Talos, and again, the character is central to the story. He has some wonderful scenes with Jackson, as well as Emilia Clarke as his misguided daughter G’iah, last played by Auden L. Ophuls and Harriet L. Ophuls in ‘Captain Marvel.’ Originally teased as a villain, Talos has become one of my favorite MCU characters, thanks to Mendelsohn’s thoughtful and funny performance.
Other Retuning MCU Characters
MCU regulars Cobie Smulders, Don Cheadle and Martin Freeman return as Maria Hill, James Rhodes, and Everett K. Ross, respectively, but all have limited roles, at least in the first two episodes. It’s also worth mentioning that the MCU has a new US President, as President Matthew Ellis (William Sadler), last seen in ‘Iron Man 3,’ has been replaced with Dermot Mulroney’s President Ritson.
While technically not a new character, Emilia Clarke makes her MCU debut as Talos’ daughter G’iah. Clarke seems fine in the role and has some nice moments with Mendelsohn, but other than running around, is not given a lot to do in the first two episodes, although I expect her role to get bigger throughout the rest of the series. Kingsley Ben-Adir plays Gravik and is certainly menacing in the role, but is a little too one note. Episode two attempts to flesh-out his backstory, and I hope there is more of that in the series and it can humanize the character a bit more so he’s not just evil for evil’s sake. But much like many fans have thought since ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ “Was Thanos right?” The character does make a strong argument for his actions, from his point of view.
But the breakout new character of the series is definitely Olivia Colman’s Sonya Falsworth. The character is unassuming, quite charming, and extremely dangerous, and Colman plays her with glee. Her interactions with Fury early on cement her place in the new MCU power structure, and tells the audience that she is not to be trusted. Is she a hero? Is she a villain? Is she a Skrull? Who knows? But Coleman is delicious in the role and clearly having fun with the part.
The short answer is that anyone in the series could be! As previously mentioned, a longstanding MCU character is revealed at the beginning of the series to be a Skrull. However, I do not believe that character has always been a Skrull, like it was in the comics. I think they were just a Skrull in this one appearance, but that could be proven wrong down the line. I don’t think the series will reveal, let’s say, that Tony Stark was always a Skrull, or something like that. But part of the fun of the comic book, and in turn this series, is that it keeps the audience guessing the entire time and raises our feelings of paranoia.
After two episodes I already have some theories, but honestly, like I said before, anyone could be a Skrull! I thought Rhodey was acting a little suspect when he met with Fury, but then again, Fury is definitely keeping a secret himself. It’s also possible that there is more than one Fury, and that Sam Jackson is not always playing that character in ‘Secret Invasion’ when we see him. Only time will tell if that is true. Other suspects? Definitely President Ritson, my “Spidey-Sense” tells me they would not have cast an actor like Dermot Mulroney in an insignificant role. Also suspect, Sonya Falsworth, she’s hiding something too but that could be a red herring. One of the strengths of the show is that it will keep you invested by keeping you guessing as the series goes on.
Ultimately, it’s hard to say. Unlike its comic book counterpart, the series is not a huge scale crossover event, instead ‘Secret Invasion’ seems like a side-story that is taking place in the shadows. It’s probably setting up a future Marvel project, possibly the next ‘Avengers’ movie, and its conclusion should have some ramifications moving forward. But I’m guessing, since this seems like a smaller, character-driven series, that it will mostly just affect Nick Fury and his role moving forward. While the Avengers and other heroes are name dropped, it’s explained why they cannot help in this matter, and however the series concludes, it will be interesting to see if this storyline crosses over to any other future projects.
Final Thoughts
‘Secret Invasion,’ in the first two episodes, sets up an intriguing spy-thriller of a series, which is brilliantly led by Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury. Ben Mendelsohn and Olivia Colman give strong supporting performances in this character-driven Marvel series that will keep you guessing the whole time.
The first two episodes of ‘Secret Invasion’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
Plotting with all the tactics of a military campaign, the Marvel team has been drip-feeding information about its upcoming Disney+ series ‘Secret Invasion’, which sees the full return of Samuel L. Jackson’s eyepatch-sporting (though not always here, more on that below) tough nut and former S.H.I.E.L.D. boss.
The new series catches us up with not only Fury but also the Skrull aliens we met in ‘Captain Marvel’, primarily led by Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos.
Originally believed to be a threat, they were actually revealed as refugees from a catastrophic war with the more dangerous race known as the Kree (for whom Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers initially fought before realizing their less friendly nature and helping Fury fight them alongside Talos).
Yet decades later, the Skrulls haven’t received what humanity promised –– access to a new homeworld of their own and real help –– so there is now a faction dedicated to taking what they’re owed, but duplicity or force.
Led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir), the group uses their shape-changing powers to wreak havoc. And among their number is someone close to Talos (spoiler alert: it’s his daughter, G’iah, played by ‘Game of Thrones’ veteran Emilia Clarke.)
To combat this threat, Fury turns not to his Avengers-level super-friends (the trailer makes a point of that, so perhaps the series will explain his thinking) but to some more down-to-Earth associates, including Talos, loyal lieutenant Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman).
And sitting squarely in between the two sides of the conflict we have Olivia Colman’s character, Special Agent Sonya Falsworth, a high-ranking member of Britain’s intelligence service MI6 (think the real-world organization that employs James Bond in a whole other fictional universe). She’s apparently been both friend and foe to Nick Fury in the past.
Casting-wise, we’ll also see Carmen Ejogo, Christopher McDonald, and Marvel veteran Don Cheadle, back as James Rhodes, here in more of a political capability than his usual War Machine style (though we’d be shocked if he didn’t suit up at some point).
Oh, and talking of a changed style, Fury also has an altered look at times –– he’s not always wearing his trademark eyepatch, which covers a damaged eye.
“He just doesn’t wear the patch. The patch is part of who the strong Nick Fury was. It’s part of his vulnerability now. You can look at it and see he’s not this perfectly indestructible person. He doesn’t feel like that guy.”
The series promises to be more of a global political spy thriller, albeit with the alien overtones and of course healthy dollops of MCU lore. But it’ll be a personal mission for Fury, who has been off-planet since the events of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ and realizes that he’s been out of touch in more ways than one. And kicking some scheming alien butt might just be his way to make contact again.
Here’s what executive producer executive producer Jonathan Schwartz says about Fury:
“Sins from his past start to haunt him once again. We often see Nick Fury doing the right thing. We don’t always see him doing it in a perfectly morally correct way. All of those things have ramifications. Without getting too specific, the things that Nick Fury’s had to do to protect the Earth have costs.”
And here’s more from Jackson:
“Nick had a whole Skrull spy network because they could shape-shift and go places that people couldn’t go. They kept their word. They worked for him, but he hasn’t done what he said he was going to do. They want a home. They want to live. They want to live like they are. They want to live in their skin. They don’t want to live in ours.”
‘Secret Invasion’ kicks off on Disney+ on June 21st.
Marvel Studios’ ‘Secret Invasion.’
In other Marvel news, there has been another change behind the scenes on the movie front.
While Kaplan and Springer are more known for comedy writing, Josh Friedman has some big sci-fi bona fides.
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What has Josh Friedman worked on?
Most recently, Friedman was part of James Cameron’s writing team for the ‘Avatar’ sequels (he has a story credit on ‘The Way of Water’). He’s also worked on the script for next year’s ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’.
Also on the small screen, he’s run or been part of the development for ‘Foundation’ and ‘Snowpiercer’.
Whether this means a complete re-write or beefing up the sci-fi side of things remains to be seen, but ‘Fantastic Four’ is still currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on February 14th, 2025.
The title might be ‘Secret Invasion’ and it might hail from Marvel –– notoriously a company that likes to keep details of its movies and series under wraps –– but we’re finally learning more about the next MCU series to arrive on Disney+.
‘Secret Invasion’ will see Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Skrull Talos facing off a brand new threat from a splinter group of the latter’s alien race.
Ben Mendelsohn as Talos in Marvel Studios’ ‘Captain Marvel.’
When did we first meet the Skrulls?
A longtime enemy in the comics, the Skrulls were given a fresh twist by 2019’s ‘Captain Marvel’, as it was revealed that the Skrulls were actually alien refugees of a devastating conflict with fellow extraterrestrials the Kree.
Though Skrulls such as Talos and his team used their shape-shifting abilities (they can mimic any person) to push their agenda, they soon let Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) and Fury know the true nature of their struggle.
At the end of the movie, Fury promised to help the Skrulls find a new home, but since ‘Captain Marvel’ was set in the 1990s and there has been little progress since then, the story has taken another turn.
There is a facet of Skrulls, unhappy with the situation, who are now taking matters into their own hands.
Led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir), this splinter group has become radicalized, and aims to get what they believe they’re owed by stealth or by force.
Among Gravik’s followers is someone very close to Talos, his daughter G’iah, played by ‘Game of Thrones’ veteran Clarke.
Here’s what Clarke says about the situation:
“These people promised a lot of stuff a long time ago, and not a lot has happened. So understandably, a certain amount of resentment has been built. There’s a lot of emotions that live within her, and there’s a lot of confrontational aspects to her character that have come from circumstance. You understand why she has the feelings that she does.”
And here’s what Clarke says about her character:
“There’s a kind of punk feeling that you get from this girl. She’s a refugee kid who’s had Talos for a dad, you know what I mean? Maybe the fact that we didn’t know he had a kid up until this point tells you everything you need to know about their relationship.”
On the other side of the conflict, we have Olivia Colman’s character, a high-ranking member of Britain’s intelligence service MI6 (think the real-world organization that employs James Bond in a whole other fictional universe). She’s apparently been both friend and foe to Nick Fury in the past.
Says Jackson of Colman’s character,
“It’s somebody that you’ve never seen her play before. She’s cold-blooded and just relishes being that person.”
The cast for the series, which reportedly, though it has yet to be officially confirmed, kicks off on Disney+ on June 21st, also includes returning MCU veterans Cobie Smulders, Martin Freeman and Don Cheadle.
D23 Expo 2022 achieved peak genre fan love today with the Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios presentation in the jam-packed Anaheim Convention Center.
You can watch Moviefone’s exclusive backstage interviews with talent by clicking on the video player above.
Disney chairman Alan Bergman took the stage of the center’s Arena to welcome fans and introduce tons of upcoming offerings from the House of Mouse’s most successful studios.
Lucasfilm got things started with a first look at what the ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Indiana Jones’ are up to. Lucasfilm president Kathy Kennedy presented a new look at ‘Andor.’ Debuting in just 11 days on Disney+, it begins five years prior to the events of ‘Rogue One.’
Courtesy of Lucasfilm.
Stars Genevieve O’Reilly (Mon Mothma) and Diego Luna (Cassian Andor) described it as the tale of “a revolutionary [learning] there’s a purpose. That there’s something to fight for.”
The two were joined by co-star Adria Arjona, whose character Bix Caleen has feelings for Andor. “She cares deeply for him,” said the actress, “sometimes to her own detriment. It’s complicated.”
The film’s final trailer was tenser and grittier than most ‘Star Wars’ we’ve seen before, with nary a cute sidekick in sight. The first three episodes debut on September, 21st.
Next up was a detour from ‘Star Wars’ with another Disney+ spinoff series – the return of ‘Willow.’ The 1987 film’s stars Warwick Davis and Joanne Whalley appeared – “At last we have some scenes together,” laughed Davis – alongside new co-star Christian Slater and presented a new trailer. It featured the returning Brownies, knights, sword fights, and a far greater number of female warriors than the original movie.
Courtesy of Lucasfilm.
There was lots more ‘Star Wars’ presented to fans when writer-producer-Force guru Dave Filoni appeared in his trademark cowboy hat and announced the first two episodes of the 16-episode second season of the animated ‘Bad Batch’ will drop on January 4th.
Filoni also offered a peek at a six-episode series of animated shorts called ‘Tales of the Jedi,’ half of which will star fan-fave Jedi Ahsoka Andu, with the other three featuring Count Dooku. All episodes drop on October 26th, and the trailer promises appearances by Anakin Skywalker, Mace Windu, Yoda, Bail Organa, and Darth Maul.
Filoni’s co-producer on ‘The Mandalorian,’ Jon Favreau, arrived from the midst of shooting the ‘Ahsoka’ live-action series starring Rosario Dawson. And ‘Spider-Man‘ director Jon Watts and actor Jude Law showed up to rep ‘Skeleton Crew.’ A live-action show about a group of kids who get lost in the ‘Star Wars’ galaxy, it’s a new story set, like Ahsoka, in the New Republic era.
Then it was turn for the cast of the third season of ‘The Mandalorian’ to take the spotlight: including Katee Sackhoff, Amy Sedaris, Giancarlo Esposito, and everyone’s favorite Mando, Pedro Pascal. The season’s first teaser revealed a platoon of sky-diving, jetpack firing Mandos, Mando and Grogu in a chase through space, lots more of Swallow’s mysterious Armorer, Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze taking command, and a regal-looking Carl Weathers.
Fans thrilled to the sight of a horsebound Ford racing though a subway, chases along the tops of trains, motorcycles chasing planes, the welcome John Rhys-Davies back as Sallah, and a very Toht-like Mads Mikkersen as the baddie.
A visibly choked up Ford returned the audience’s gratitude. ”No, thank you, said the veteran actor, “for making these films such an incredible experience. I’m very proud to say that this one is fantastic. And [Phoebe Waller-Bridge] is one of the reasons. Indiana Jones films are about mystery and adventure but they’re also about heart. I’m really happy that we have a really human story to tell as well as a movie that will kick your ass.”
“This is it!” he joked of his return to his most iconic role, “I will not fall down for you again! But thank you so much. Thank you James Mangold for picking up the pieces and making a spectacular film.”
Courtesy of Lucasfilm.
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Not to be outdone by Indy, it was then Marvel Studios turn on stage, with chief Kevin Feige introducing a live musical presentation of “Rogers: The Musical,’ with composer Mark Shaman conducting as a full Broadway cast cavorted on stage.
The most anticipated Marvel release followed – with a new look at November’s ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’ The scene consisted of Angela Bassett’s Queen Ramonda defending Wakanda’s Vibranium reserve before an international committee, as the Dora Milaje thwart a mercenary attack on a Wakandan research center.
“Chadwick [Boseman] was with us every step of the way,” saidBassett of her late co-star. “He showed us the way.”
“I’m excited for my bro to look down on us and smile,” added Wright.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios.
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Coogler is also responsible for ‘Ironheart,’ the upcoming Disney+ series featuring Riri Willaims, Tony Stark’s genius-inventor successor in the MCU. A first look saw star Dominique Thorne confronting antagonist The Hood, played by ‘Hamilton’ star Anthony Ramos, a practitioner of the dark arts. Expect a unique battle of tech versus magic when the show drops next year.
A first look depicted Scott Lang flying high after the success of his autobiography, the return of his frenemy Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), and his daughter Cassie (now played by Kathryn Newton) opening up a whole world of trouble when she sends a signal to the Quantum realm, drawing the attention of the fearsome Kang, the cybernetic MODOK, new co-star Bill Murray, who plays an an old friend Michelle Pfeiffer’s Janet van Dyne.
“Have I killed you before?” asks Kang upon first meeting Ant-Man.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios.
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Fans won’t have so long to wait for Marvel’s first Halloween “Special Presentation” – ‘Werewolf by Night.’ Stars Gael Garcia Bernal and Laura Donnelly hit the stage alongside director Michael Giacchino, best known as the composer of many beloved Pixar film scores.
Shot in retro-style black and white, debut footage was reminiscent of classic Universal Monster movies – and revealed a quick shot of Marvel Comics’ Man-Thing in his MCU debut.
‘Secret Invasion’ next wowed fans, with star Don Cheadle offering a first look at the upcoming Disney+ series. Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury, Olivia Coleman, and ‘Captain Marvel’ Skrull Ben Medohlson appeared in footage that took the espionage side of the MCU to a new level.
“Sorry, I’m so confused right now,” said Quan, who debuted in 1984’s ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.’ “Is this NOT the ‘Indiana Jones’ panel?”
The footage featured the return of actors Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Wunmi Mosaku, along with the intriguing return of Kang as a sculpture Loki uncovers.
Marvel had more in store for Disney+ subscribers with ‘Echo,’ spinning off the deaf villain of ‘Hawkeye’ into her own series. Stars Alaqua Cox, Graham Greene, and Vincent D’Onofrio debuted footage that saw the return of D’Onofrio’s Kingpin (with a bandaged eye after the events of ‘Hawkeye’).
“To bring Fisk and Maya back together again was a thrill,” said the actor. “We had some crazy scenes.”
Though nothing was revealed of another Kingpin-starring project – ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ – star Charlie Cox presented a look at his blind hero’s appearance in TV’s ‘She-Hulk.’ The scene showed Daredevil flirting with Jennifer Walters during a stakeout, as he described his ability to hear heartbeats.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios.
More Marvel movies arrived with ‘Captain America: New World Order’ stars Anthony Mackie, Shira Haas (as Israeli superhero Sabra), Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, and Tim Blake Nelson – back in the MCU after 14 years as The Leader.
“It’s amazing,” said Mackie of bringing his Cap to the big screen. “I’m nervous. It’s exciting. It’s everything I expected it to be.”
“I had such an amazing time with these beautiful women – inside and out. It was so nice to have a team. I have a team!”
Footage from the July release opened with Monica Rambeau in a space on a mission for Fury, before being suddenly body swapped with Ms. Marvel.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios.
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Last but not least… The panel concluded with a treat from 20th Century Studios, with director James Cameron dialing in from New Zealand, where he’s finishing the first of several ‘Avatar’ sequels, ‘The Way of Water,’
“Right now it’s pretty hectic around here. We’re finishing up a five-year production cycle. This has been a bit of an odyssey. Shooting and capturing for movie 2, movie 3, and the first part of movie 4. We’re finishing up movie 2.”
Several scenes of 3D were presented of the films’ new Na’vi warriors, with underwater footage drawing gasps from the audience.
“The whole movie deals with the protection of family and protection of familial love,” said Sam Worthington.
In the years since the Marvel Cinematic Universe began to dominate the box office and impact all corners of pop consciousness, Marvel Studios Comic-Con panels have begun to resemble rock concerts or religious sermons. Or a bit of both.
And, following two years of virtual or reduced San Diego conventions, the company was not going to waste the opportunity to go big, announcing whole phases as well as what we can expect.
Following an initial sizzle reel, cartoon clock Ms. Minutes from ‘Loki’ introduced Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, who was master of ceremonies as usual.
Marvel Studio’s ‘The Multiverse Saga.’
Following some talk about the Phase 4 announcements that Feige made way back in 2019, he announces that the next Marvel show – ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ – and movie (‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’) will mark the end of that particular Phase.
Team ‘She-Hulk’, including star Tatiana Maslany, were on hand to answer brief questions and then debut the new trailer for the show, which debuts on Disney+ on August 17th this year. You can watch the trailer above and keep an eye out for a Daredevil cameo.
But if that and the ‘Panther’ sequel (more on that later) close out Phase 4, what constitutes Phase 5? Glad you asked. Fortunately, Feige, with an accompanying timeline graphic, was ready to inform us.
It all kicks off with ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’, in theaters February 17th next year. We’re promised another fun romp with Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang and Evangeline Lily, though this time they’ll have to deal with trouble from powerful multiverse entity Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors, who played a version of the character in ‘Loki’).
Director Peyton Reed and stars Rudd, Lilly, Majors and Kathryn Newton (Scott’s daughter Cassie) were on stage for a Q&A and to introduce a sizzle reel from the film, which was only shown to those in the audience. One big takeaway? Giant-headed character MODOK will show up in the movie.
Whether he’ll be voiced by Patton Oswalt (who played him in the recent Hulu stop-motion series) remains to be seen.
“Scott is pretty pleased with himself in his role with saving the universe,” Rudd told the crowd. “Scott’s been busy at work–ish. With a little book (his memoir). And I don’t know what else I’m supposed to say!”
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Next up was ‘Secret Invasion’, which stars Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn and Cobie Smulders. The series showcases a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls who have been infiltrating Earth for years, and according to Smulders (who arrived on stage in Hall H) will be a darker, grittier show that will keep you guessing as to who is a Skrull. That’ll arrive on Disney+ next spring.
And that wasn’t all – Chukwudi Iwuji (who worked with Gunn on ‘Peacemaker’) strode through the crowd in costume to announce he’s playing a villain known as the High Evolutionary. “Call me sire!” he demanded after making it to the stage.
Will Poulter was also on stage, though he made no demands and he was dressed in a T-shirt and slacks. He’s playing Adam Warlock in the movie. “I’m truly, truly grateful,” he admitted. “It’s pretty surreal to have ever stepped on the ‘Guardians’ set.”
Marvel Studios’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.’
A ‘Guardians’ sizzle reel – again, not released to the public outside the convention center – showed some details, including the fact that Zoe Saldana’s Gamora still has no memory of her friends and his running with the Ravagers.
We can also expect to see a younger Rocket Racoon (voiced as usual by Bradley Cooper) with the movie exploring his tragic origin. Groot (Vin Diesel) is grown up again in the new movie.
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The remainder of Phase 5 was limited to the announcement graphic. ‘Echo’, the spin-off series from ‘Hawkeye’ about Alaqua Cox’s deaf gangster Maya Lopez, is due on Disney+ in summer 2023. ‘Loki’ Season 2 will follow that, also on Disney+, while ‘The Marvels’ – the ‘Captain Marvel’ sequel that also features Iman Vellani from ‘Ms. Marvel’ will be in theaters on July 28, 2023.
Marvel Studios’ ‘Echo.’Marvel Studios’ ‘Loki’ Season 2.
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Fall 2023 brings ‘Ironheart’ – starring Dominique Thorne as young genius armor-builder Riri Williams – to Disney+. ‘Blade’, with Mahershala Ali as the daywalking vampire, hits theaters on November 3rd, 2023.
‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’, which returns Kathryn Hahn’s character from ‘WandaVision’ heads to Disney+ in Winter 2023/2024.
Marvel Studios’ ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos.’
Perhaps even more exciting is official confirmation of a new ‘Daredevil’ series once starring Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio. ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ lands on Disney+ in the spring of 2024.
Marvel Studios’ ‘Daredevil: Born Again.’
‘Captain America: New World Order’, which will see the big-screen debut of Sam Wilson’s (Anthony Mackie) version of Cap following his suiting up in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’, is due in theaters on May 3rd, 2024. After that will be the anti-hero team ‘Thunderbolts’ making it to theaters on July 28th, 2024.
Marvel Studios’ ‘Captain America: New World Order.’
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Marvel Studios’ ‘Thunderbolts.’
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And what of Phase 6? So far, only three movies have been confirmed for that, with plenty of date slots still to be filled with other films and shows.
The long awaited ‘Fantastic Four’ MCU edition is due out on November 8th, 2024. And then the biggest of the title-only announcements: Phase 6 wraps up in 2025 with ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’ on May 2nd, 2025, and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ on November 7th, 2025.
Marvel Studio’s ‘Fantastic Four.’
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Marvel Studios’ ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.’Marvel Studios’ ‘Avengers: Secret Wars.’
Last, but very, very far from least, Feige wound things back to this year. ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ will be with us on November 11th.
In the movie, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Wright), M’Baku (Duke), Okoye (Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Kasumba), fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.
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They’ll need it – as the Wakandans will face conflict with an undersea nation, which will introduce Namor the Sub-Mariner, played by Huerta.
After Coogler paid emotional tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, he and the cast debuted the new trailer. You can see it for yourself below.
It’s an emotional, effective promo for the trailer, showcasing and enraged Angela Bassett and some very different locales. Oh, and someone new in the Black Panther suit (though we don’t know who yet).
And for those who like their Marvel movies in sagas as well as phases, you’ll be happy to know that Phases 4 through 6 constitute ‘The Multiverse Saga’ (as 1-3 were ‘The Infinity Saga’).
All in all, another huge successful event for Marvel, who certainly know how to put on a show!
Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige is not a man who gives up secrets. Nor is he particularly inclined to offer much more than veiled hints about the next steps in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But he did at least say something…
“As we’re nearing the end of Phase 4, I think people will start to see where this next saga is going,” confides Feige in the latest issue of Total Film. “I think there have been many clues already, that are at least apparent to me, of where this whole saga is going. But we’ll be a little more direct about that in the coming months, to set a plan, so audiences who want to see the bigger picture can see a tiny, tiny, tiny bit more of the roadmap.”
Big themes for this phase so far have definitely been the multiverse, with the introduction of Kang (Jonathan Majors), who will crop up in a few more stories, and more cosmic characters.
In related Marvel news, we got a new look at the next movie to arrive in the hugely successful MCU.
‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ is headed to theaters on July 7th and sees the return of Chris Hemsworth’s Asgardian warrior.
In this latest outing, he’s still hanging around with the Guardians of the Galaxy but starts to crave a more peaceful existence. The chances of that are slim to none, though, not least because Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher is out to destroy all beings like our hero.
And then there’s the not-so-inconsequential matter of his former flame, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who has somehow acquired the powers of the Thunder God himself, including the ability to wield restored hammer Mjolnir.
With Taika Waititi once more co-writing and directing, it promises to be another blend of comedy and character drama, plus a full helping of thunder-powered action. In this latest look at the movie, we see Thor confronting Gorr and attempting to rally the people of Earth’s New Asgard – a task not helped by insectoid Miek’s screechy whiteboard use.
And to be filed under the more of a wish list item, Chris Evans has been addressing whether he’d return to the MCU. It sounds like he’s happy keeping Cap wrapped but wouldn’t mind returning as someone else from his Marvel – albeit not MCU – cinematic past.
“Look, I would love it,” Evans told MTV news about playing Johnny Storm/Human Torch again. “I would love it. That would actually be an easier sell to me than coming back as Cap. You know what I mean? Cap is so precious to me. And you know, I almost don’t wanna disrupt what a beautiful experience that was. But Johnny Storm, I feel like he didn’t really get his day. That was before Marvel really found its footing. So, I loved that role and, you know, who knows?”
Given that Marvel is developing a new take on the Fantastic Four, we’d guess he won’t be back. But, as Evans says, who knows? It’s a big movie multiverse out there.
(L to R) Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards, Jessica Alba as Susan Storm, and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm in 2005’s ‘Fantastic Four.’
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