The Skrulls are a big part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With their ability to impersonate any living being, they are difficult opponents to defeat. Especially in comics, where there are different species of Skrulls, such as the Super Skrull. With the upcoming premiere of the latest Disney+ series later this month, questions appear like “Who’s going to be revealed as a Skrull in Secret Invasion?”, “Who’s not a Skrull?” and so forth.
We’re certainly not prepared for such a big event that could reveal various MCU favorites as Skrulls. After we learn that the Skrulls orchestrated certain events in the past or were heroes we love – some things will not be the same. A quick note, there will be no examples of people who have already been impersonated by Skrulls, so don’t worry.
Sharon Carter a.k.a. Agent 13
Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) is a highly trained S.H.I.E.L.D. agent nicknamed Agent 13. She was Steve Rogers’ (Chris Evans) secret personal guard during the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and is the great-niece of the legendary Agent Carter (Hayley Atwell). So, naturally, with her appearance after the events of Captain America: Civil War in The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, every fan had certain expectations.
Out of nowhere, as soon as she appeared, we were taken aback by Sharon’s immoral, dangerous, and suspicious behavior. She was not the same person we saw in the last two Captain America films. Now she is a dangerous arms dealer – the Power Broker. And I think this is all the plot thread needed to reveal that she has been a Skrull since the events of Captain America: Civil War.
My theory is that Sharon vanished into thin air and is nowhere to be found. Maybe she’s been killed, maybe she’s being held hostage somewhere, or maybe she’s been in space helping Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). But I believe this version of Sharon we see in Falcon and the Winter Soldier is a Skrull who wants to use her influence, sources, and family past for his/her own ends.
With a war between Skrull factions looming, the decision to impersonate one of the country’s former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents is a hit. With access to government secrets, weapons prototypes, and more, this is something that could change the course of the war. And of course, being an “ally” of the Avengers really helps in this situation.
Alexander Pierce
The former head of S.H.I.E.L.D., who helped Hydra (as one of their leaders) take over one of the government’s most secretive organizations. This is not an attractive description for someone like Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford). In Captain America: The Winter Soldier we learned that Nick Fury saved his daughter’s life in Bogotá.
This was the moment he lost faith in peace, democracy, and negotiations. Or perhaps soon after, the real Alexander Pierce was killed and a Skrull took his place. He was then recruited by Hydra, whichever the case. By stealing the identity of one of the US government’s top secret agents, a Skrull could do whatever he/she wanted.
Using strategic thinking to build his position, he became the Undersecretary of the World Security Council. Later, when he became secretary, he promoted Nick Fury to S.H.I.E.L.D. director. It fits with the plan set in place for the Skrulls in Secret Invasion, infiltrating the highest of powers around the world.
We know that the Skrulls are capable of anything. With their ability to become whoever they want, it is easy to manipulate people. And manipulation is one of the tools people use all the time for one thing in particular: politics. That’s why I think Alexander Pierce was an evil Skrull all along, since all the action in Bogotá.
It would be very easy for an alien who has just assumed someone else’s identity to pretend to be in shock and suddenly behave differently. Especially since such a Skrull might not have had a plan and improvised all the time. We haven’t seen much of Pierce’s past. I think his being an important character in Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the reason to explain more to us about what happened.
Maybe sometime in the future, we’ll see flashbacks of how some Skrulls impersonated all these people. And one of those scenes could be Skrull impersonating Alexander Pierce who betrayed his people to side with Hydra. After everything that has happened so far in theMCU, I wouldn’t be surprised if they do that. And frankly, I would love to see more from the past of the MCU’s top villains.
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine a.k.a. Madame Hydra
Val (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is a mysterious character with connections to espionage and clandestine operations. Currently, her intentions and affiliations have not yet fully been revealed in the MCU, which might suggest her involvement in some shady operations. We also know she’s the ex-wife of Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) who is also a mysterious character. Of course, when we compare him to other similar heroes.
As the current director of the CIA, a Skrull who has assumed the identity of Val or someone who looked like her in the past can cause chaos. Spreading disinformation among the Central Intelligence Agency and other important U.S. government facilities can be destructive. Especially in the MCU world, where there is a lot of advanced technology and weapons to steal.
I think Val may be one of the evil Skrulls who got stuck on Earth in the past and became a high-ranking member of Hydra (or a similar evil organization). Just like in Captain America #3-7 (1998), created by Mark Waid, Ron Garney, and Dale Eaglesham. Infiltrating the U.S. government for 25 years, becoming a top agent, and then working as a double agent sounds perfect for exposure in series like Secret Invasion.
Howard Stark
With his brilliance, entrepreneurial spirit, and complex personality, Howard Stark (John Slattery) has become an integral part of the Marvel storytelling landscape. Howard Stark is known for his remarkable achievements in engineering, inventing, and business. Under his leadership, Stark Industries became a world leader in advancements such as arc reactor technology, repulsor-based propulsion systems, and AI interfaces.
His contributions to science and technology have had a lasting impact on the Marvel universe. Howard Stark’s genius extended beyond the realm of science and technology. Aside from his business endeavors, Howard Stark played a significant role in various global conflicts, particularly during World War II.
He was a key strategist and inventor for the Allied forces, developing groundbreaking weapons and technologies that aided in the fight against the Axis powers. His inventions, including the vibranium-based shield used by Captain America, were crucial in turning the tide of the war.
If we assume that the Skrulls were present on Earth before the events of Captain Marvel, some important events in human history within the MCU may be changed forever. Maybe after Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Steve Rogers time-traveled to the 1970s, something happened and Howard Stark died and a Skrull took his place.
Or he and Maria (Hope Davis) left to protect Tony, and the Skrull family raised and protected him all these years. Especially with all events with the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) that were going on at the time. If we look at the history of the MCU, we can see that all of Howard’s experiments and inventions were ahead of his time. So maybe the Skrulls helped him in exchange for his later assistance, or maybe it was just Victor Timely (Jonathan Majors) executing his plan.
I feel that exposing the whole alien conspiracy and Howard Stark being a part of it may be the way to go. Especially since we know that Fury knew Howard, because he was one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D. And that’s not a coincidence.
Tyler Hayward
Tyler Hayward (Josh Stamberg) was a director of S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient Weapon Observation Response Division) during the events of WandaVision. Hayward played a pivotal role in the events surrounding Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and the Westview anomaly. However throughout those events, his actions and motivations were too suspicious for me to not include him here.
Initially, he presented himself as a dedicated and resourceful leader, but as the series progressed, his behavior became increasingly dubious. Hayward displayed a lack of empathy and a willingness to use unethical methods to achieve his goals. These inconsistencies in his character could indicate that he is not who he appears to be. We have never heard of him before and know nothing about his past.
All that is known is his highly developed tactics of manipulation and that his morals do not exist. He deliberately provokes Wanda Maximoff in an attempt to use her powers to S.W.O.R.D.’s advantage.
His insistence on branding Wanda as a terrorist and his refusal to consider alternative solutions suggest a hidden agenda. Skrulls are known for their skill in manipulation and subterfuge, which aligns with Hayward’s behavior. As the director of S.W.O.R.D., Hayward has access to highly advanced technology. Skrulls are known for their ability to replicate both appearance and technology.
Skrulls taking the place of every major politician/government employee to prepare Earth for a Skrull invasion is something that is really possible. Especially if they want to destroy any rebellion/resistance group that wants to stop them.
Who do you think will be revealed as a Skrull in Secret Invasion?
The Skrull invasion of Earth is something that fans and characters in these productions are not ready for. Challenging everything that has happened so far and destroying the sense of stability in this world is definitely something that will divide fans. But we will just have to wait and see if this series will destroy or rather explore more deeply everything that has happened there so far.
Secret Invasion will release on Disney+ on June 21st. What do you think about these choices? Who do you think will be revealed to be Skrulls in Secret Invasion or later? Let us know on Twitter and our Discord channel. And if you haven’t already, check out our Secret Invasion exclusive about the Skrull hideouts!
Secret Invasion Exclusive: Details About Skrull Hideout
