Marvel Studios has confirmed that the upcoming “Secret Invasion” limited series will consist of six hour-long episodes with the episode runtimes said to be fairly consistent – so don’t expect any super-sized episodes.
The espionage thriller is based on the crossover comic event showcasing a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls having infiltrated Earth for years.
Samuel L. Jackson reprises his role as Nick Fury in the series who returns from his extended sojourn into outer space and uncovers a conspiracy to install shapeshifting Skrull double-agents into positions of power around the world.
Empire has done a breakdown of the upcoming show which is said to show a much more fragile and human side of Fury. The intimidating authority figure’s eye patch, well-manicured goatee even the black leather coat are gone and with good reason says Jackson:
“All those things are part of a Nick Fury that’s invulnerable. Here you have a guy who’s showing his face, and showing his age. It’s an opportunity to humanise someone that everybody thinks is superhuman.
I had to figure out some stuff and work out some new things, which I’ve been trying to do for a while. It’s great to have an opportunity to find out who he was and delve into how much of a toll his job actually takes on his personal life.”
That vulnerability adds stakes according to producer Jonathan Schwartz who wanted to include Fury’s mortality as an aspect of the series:
“One of the things we really wanted to bring to this show that makes it a little bit unique in the Marvel universe is vulnerability. Nick Fury is just a human, Maria Hill [Cobie Smulders] is just a human. A single bullet could take them out.
That’s something we don’t always get in the MCU. To bring that level of tension, fear and vulnerability into one of our shows was really exciting.”
Is this the end for Fury though? Jackson hopes not:
“I love playing him, and I love the fact that they’re opening him up to all these other possibilities and this whole life that he has. So hopefully I’m not done, and in this new phase of the MCU I’ll still be floating in and out of there somehow, some way.”
Also back are Captain Marvel’s Ben Mendelsohn who is returning as Talos, Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, and Don Cheadle as James Rhodes.
They’re joined by Emilia Clarke as Talos’ Skrull daughter G’iah, Kingsley Ben-Adir as resistance leader Gravikm, Olivia Colman as an antagonistic MI6 agent named Sonya Falsworth who is also an old ally of Fury.
Also onboard are Christopher McDonald, Carmen Ejogo, Charlayne Woodard, Killian Scott and Dermot Mulroney as the President of the United States. The series is executive produced by Kyle Bradstreet.
“Secret Invasion” premieres on the Disney+ service from June 21st.
