The first episode of Marvel Studios' latest MCU-set Disney+ series, Secret Invasion, premiered this week, and wasted very little time in unveiling the show's first Skrull infiltrator.
In the opening scene, Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) murders another CIA operative when he begins to suspect something is amiss, and after being chased down by Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), we learn that Ross is actually one of the alien shapeshifters in disguise. The Skrull appears to perish after his fall, and is only mentioned once more in the episode as "Ross' imposter."
An impactful way to begin the story, for sure, but it does beg the question: How long has the seemingly heroic Ross been a Skrull agent intent on wiping out the human race?
Ross was an ally of T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), and risked his career and life several times over the course of both Black Panther movies. Not something his Skrull duplicate would be likely to do... unless an alliance with Wakanda was always part of the larger plan?
Even so, we'd say it's more likely that Ross was himself until after Thanos' arrival and The Blip, which raises another question: Where is the real Ross?
The show reveals that, when a Skrull chooses a "shell" to impersonate, they also take their memories/persona. We don't see what becomes of the human that's been duplicated, but would Gravik really have any further use for them?
This would seem like a rather understated end for a character who has emerged as a key supporting player in the MCU over the years, but Secret Invasion has already shown that it's not afraid of getting blood on its hands with the death of Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders).
What do you think? Has Ross been a Skrull from the beginning, or only recently? Will he be found alive and hooked up to one of Gravik's machines, or have we seen the last of the character? Be sure to share your theories with us in the comments.
"In Marvel Studios’ new series Secret Invasion, set in the present day MCU, Nick Fury learns of a clandestine invasion of Earth by a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls. Fury joins his allies, including Everett Ross, Maria Hill and the Skrull Talos, who has made a life for himself on Earth. Together they race against time to thwart an imminent Skrull invasion and save humanity."
The series stars Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Cobie Smulders, Martin Freeman, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Charlayne Woodard, Killian Scott, Samuel Adewunmi, Dermot Mulroney, Christopher McDonald, Katie Finneran, with Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, and Don Cheadle.
Ali Selim directs and executive-produces, along with fellow executive producers Kevin Feige, Jonathan Schwartz, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Samuel L. Jackson, Ali Selim, Kyle Bradstreet and Brian Tucker. Kyle Bradstreet is also the head writer, and Jennifer L. Booth, Allana Williams and Brant Englestein serve as co-executive producers.