During the Marvel Studios panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2017 fans got a huge reveal regarding the upcoming Captain Marvel film that will have major impact on entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. What one piece of news could shake up the MCU? Skrulls are finally making their debut in the MCU as the villains of Captain Marvel.
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This reveal, long considered improbable due to Skrulls being owned by 20th Century Fox, opens up a lot of doors for the MCU especially since Captain Marvel will be set in the ’90s. That means Skrulls were already a part of the MCU when we first met Tony Stark in 2008’s Iron Man and has an even larger implication: the MCU might be heading towards a Secret Invasion storyline and some of the heroes we know and love might actually be Skrulls.
Read on to find out which heroes we think might really be Skrulls.
Tony Stark / Iron Man
In the Secret Invasion storyline, the alien Skrulls infiltrated Earth over a number of years, kidnapping heroes and assuming their identities. The Skrulls use the assumed identities to take over the planet via access to advanced weapons, resources and governments as well as the destabilization of Earth’s defenses and superheroic community. If MCU is trying to go a Secret Invasion route, the most likely candidate for truly being a Skrull is none other than Iron Man himself, Tony Stark.
Stark is a perfect target. A billionaire who not only has access to but builds advanced weapons, has government connections and was seen hoarding alien tech in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Stark is a Skrull’s ideal choice of hero to impersonate. And Iron Man being a Skrull doesn’t just make for an intense plot twist. Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has has spoken before about recasting some of the actors in the MCU as their contract renewals come up. Tony Stark secretly being a Skrull could provide a recasting opportunity if necessary.
Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow
Another character high on the list of likely possible Skrulls is Black Widow. Like Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff would be a perfect target but what makes Widow a good mark is her involvement with S.H.I.E.L.D. As we already know that the Skrulls will battle with Captain Marvel and S.H.I.E.L.D in Captain Marvel, the invaders would have interest in taking over a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
Some signs that Black Widow might already be a Skrull? For starters, she has crazy physical abilities and skills and her appearance, while generally consistent, is somewhat chameleon-like. That could appeal to a shapeshifting Skrull. And while some might argue that Romanoff was just a kid in the ’90s, it’s possible that a Skrull could impersonate a child or that they simply took advantage of a well-trained fully adult Black Widow.
Clint Barton / Hawkeye
Hawkeye might not be as likely a mark for Skrulls as Tony Stark and Black Widow, but in addition to his excellent sharp shooting skills, Clint Barton is also a S.H.I.E.L.D agent. Both of those things make him a good choice for Skrull impersonation, but what could really sell the idea is that, despite being introduced to Barton’s family during Avengers: Age of Ultron, very little is known about Clint Barton.
One particularly enduring mystery about Hawkeye is the Budapest incident mentioned briefly in The Avengers. While fighting the Chitauri, Black Widow comments that “this is just like Budapest.” Hawkeye responds that they remember Budapest very differently. Could that be a clue as to when or how one or both of them were replaced by Skrulls?
Nick Fury
While it’s highly unlikely that Nick Fury is a Skrull, it’s not impossible. Marvel has made Fury a villain in comic books before, specifically in the Original Sin storyline.
But what hints do we have that Fury might be a Skrull? For starters, he wasn’t around for Captain America: Civil War. This mimics events in the comic book storyline for Secret Invasion where Fury was preparing for the Skrull invasion. He’s also the man who formed the Avengers, which would put him in prime position to weaken Earth’s defenses to aid the Skrulls.
And let’s not forget that Fury is slated to appear with both of his eyes in Captain Marvel. Perhaps the incident that lead to Fury losing his eye is connected to him secretly being replaced by a Skrull.
Before You Go
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Captain Marvel will be directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, from a script by Nicole Perlman and Meg LeFauve. Brie Larson will star as Carol Danvers and Nick Fury will reprise his role as Nick Fury.
Captain Marvel is scheduled to open in theaters on Nov. 2, 2018.
MORE CAPTAIN MARVEL: Captain Marvel Is Not In Avengers: Infinity War / Kevin Feige Teases The Meaning Behind Captain Marvel’s Retro Setting / Is Secret Invasion The Next Big Marvel Cinematic Universe Story Arc?
