Secret Invasion Trailer Trusts No One

Television

The guessing game has begun, as Marvel has released a trailer for its upcoming Disney+ miniseries Secret Invasion. Samuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury, who is the lead for the first time, to battle a renegade Skrull faction that has infiltrated the world’s governments with plans for conquest. Cobie Smulders, Don Cheadle, Ben Mendelsohn, and Martin Freeman are also back as their Marvel characters, and they’re joined by Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, and Kingsley Ben-Adir. Kyle Bradstreet is the showrunner and head writer for Secret Invasion, which premieres on Disney+ on June 21, 2023. You can see the new trailer below:

I know, I know: it’s modern Marvel, trailers can be deceiving, the MCU has screwed up the Skrulls since their introduction, and other arguments that are perfectly valid and, let’s face it, likely correct. But I like the way Secret Invasion is being presented, and the tone of this trailer matches the feel of a Cold War spy movie; no goofy humor or awful effects (although the couple we saw went by quickly, so that’s not a guarantee), just sneaky, suspenseful spy skullduggery, and I love it. I like the idea of Nick Fury facing his past sins and trying to atone for them by saving the world in a war that, for once, he’s better equipped to wage than the Avengers. The supporting cast makes sense in that regard; the only superhero around is Rhodey, and he’s here as a military man, not as War Machine. Olivia Colman’s character opens the door to exploring some of Nick Fury’s past as a spy. (This would have been the place to reveal how he lost his eye, Marvel, not to the silly kitty cat; imagine invoking the betrayal that cost him an eye in a story about how no one can be trusted.) I hope they don’t cover ground we already know, though, like the hostage rescue Alexander Pierce brings up in The Winter Soldier. I’d rather find out about other cool stories from his past. I’m also heartened that the showrunner is Kyle Bradstreet, who was a writer and producer on the spy series Berlin Station. I haven’t seen Berlin Station (although I really want to; I just need an MGM+ subscription), but I’ve heard nothing but great things about it, and if this guy knows how to write good spy fiction, he’s the right man for the job. There’s every reason to believe this is another football that’s going to be pulled away the second I try to kick it, but I don’t want to give up on hope completely, and so far, Secret Invasion looks good.