With only one episode left of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Marvel Studios is already generating excitement for their upcoming Phase Four series Secret Invasion by casting Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones, Solo: A Star Wars Story). Variety confirmed on Tuesday that Clarke is in “final negotiations” for a role in the series which remains “naturally under wraps.”
Clarke will join long-confirmed cast members Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, The Avengers) and Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Bloodline), rumored series villain Kingsley Ben-Adir (The OA, High Fidelity) and Olivia Coleman in an unknown role. Fresh of the heels of Coleman’s coasting news, Gizmodo has declared that Clarke’s addition to “the series means Secret Invasion will have two queens—Elizabeth II and the Khaleesi—on its roster.”
Clarke is diving into the world of comics head first, with her role in Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion among just one piece of comic book related news coming from the actress this week. On Wednesday, Entertainment Weekly announced that Clarke will be co-authoring an Image series entitled M.O.M.: Mother of Madness, about a hero balancing the life of a single-parent with that of a vigilante crime-fighter. A preview of the graphic novel (included below) accompanied the Wednesday announcement from Image.
In terms of who else might be joining Clarke in her foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it has not yet been confirmed whether Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep, Seinfeld) will be involved in Secret Invasion after her recent appearance as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Louis-Dreyfus’ character has a romantic history with Jackson’s Nick Fury, one that plays a role in Marvel Comic’s Secret Invasion. As Secret Invasion sees the shape-shifting race of aliens, known as the Skrulls, slowly infiltrate society by disguising themselves as powerful human leaders, many established characters become impersonated by the Skrulls – Contessa included.
Another beloved comic book character, not yet introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who gets replaced by a Skrull imposter is Spider-Woman. According to Collider, many fans have already begun to speculate that Clarke may play Veranke, the Skrull empress who disguises herself as Spider-Woman. “There’s some fun symmetry to her Game Of Thrones character there,” The A.V. Club says of Clarke’s potential role as Veranke, since she is a queen much like Clarke’s previous role as Khaleesi.
Marvel Studios head Kevin Fiege has vaguely discussed how Marvel Comics’ Secret Invasion will translate into Marvel Television’s Secret Invasion. Through Captain Marvel and end credits scenes in both Spider-Man: Far From Home and WandaVision, the Skrulls have established themselves as allies in the MCU, meaning there’s lot of potential for Secret Invasion to turn comic book readers expectations on their head. As Collider commented: “now that the MCU is a multiverse of madness, pretty much anything is possible.”
It was previously speculated that Disney+’s Secret Invasion would begin filming this Spring, but there’s yet to be a formal update on production or a timeline for the series’ release.