Who is Emilia Clarke playing in the MCU’s Secret Invasion?
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe heads into Phase 5, things are already off to a rocky start. As well as the mixed reception of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, those at the top have removed release dates from most of its upcoming Disney+ shows.
Mr. Robot's Kyle Bradstreet is delivering the six-episode Secret Invasion, which alongside Loki Season 2, will be the only Disney+ show to land in 2023. Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders are back as Nick Fury and Maria Hill, while Ben Mendelsohn reprises his role as Talos from Captain Marvel.
In terms of newcomers, we've got the Oscar-winning Olivia Colman and Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke. Despite mysteries surrounding their characters, a new trailer and some official details have confirmed who Clarke is playing in Secret Invasion.
Who does Emilia Clarke play in Secret Invasion?
Click to enlargeVanity Fair has the scoop on who Clarke will be playing, with her apparently being the female Skrull called G'iah (pronounced 'gaia'). There is a Skrull called Gi'ah in Marvel Comics, however, Clarke's version is the daughter of Talos.
With Mendelsohn playing Talos again - and there being a massive time jump from the events of Captain Marvel - it makes sense that his grownup daughter has a part to play in the Skrull invasion. Unlike Kingsley Ben-Adir's villainous Gravik, G'iah looks like she's on the side of the good guys.
Although Skrulls are typically villains in Marvel Comics, Captain Marvel revamped them as refugees seeking solace on Earth. Jump to Secret Invasion and an evil sect of Skrulls is trying to infiltrate Earth at the highest level.
Discussing G'iah's motives, Clarke said, "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."
Many thought Clarke would be playing Abigail Brand, who is the head of S.W.O.R.D. (which featured heavily in WandVision) in the comics and is a big deal because she's a mutant. Although there's been a slow tease of mutants in the MCU, it doesn't like Clarke will be part of the X-Men.
Who does Olivia Colman play in Secret Invasion?
Click to enlargeThe other big addition is Olivia Colman. The Crown star will be playing Sonya Falsworth - an old friend of Nick Fury. Despite Falsworth originally looking like an ally, Jackson has hinted she'll be the big bad.
Falsworth is an MI6 agent who is trying to protect England's national security during the Skrull invasion, but there's more to her. Explaining how Sonya fits into things, Jackson told Vanity Fair she's "somebody that you've never seen her play before." He added, "She's cold-blooded and just relishes being that person."
Interestingly, Sonya's surname suggests she's tied to Captain America: The First Avenger. The Phase 1 movie featured JJ Field playing James Montgomery Falsworth, aka Union Jack, in the Howling Commandoes. Place your bets on Colman's Falsworth being Union Jack's descendant.
We've been warned literally anyone could be a Skrull, but to be honest, we're putting out money on the likes of Martin Freeman's Everett K. Ross or Dermot Mulroney's President Ritson being revealed as a secret Skrull. Assuming G'iah and Sonya make it out alive, expect to see more of Clarke and Colman in the MCU.
