After S.H.I.E.L.D. fell in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Nick Fury took something of a backseat in the MCU. He returned to lend a helping hand in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but seemed content to let the world believe he's dead.
The former S.H.I.E.L.D. Director later showed up in Avengers: Infinity War, only to be immediately snapped out of existence by Thanos. He was resurrected thanks to the events of Avengers: Endgame, but Secret Invasion has made it clear the Mad Titan's actions have left a lasting impact on Fury.
While he's currently in the midst of attempting to repel an invasion of Skrull imposters, we know Fury will return in The Marvels later this year. Beyond that, Samuel L. Jackson seems convinced a clash with Julia Louis-Dreyfuss' CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is also on the horizon.
"I've talked to her about it already because she did a film with my wife that's coming out very soon," the actor tells The Wrap. "She was sitting right behind me at the Oscars. So she kept poking me, saying, 'We're gonna fight, we're gonna fight.' So, I guess she already knows something I don't know. But she's just starting something anyway."
Could Fury return in Thunderbolts? It's certainly possible, but once that team is established - and perhaps becomes more akin to the MCU's "Dark Avengers" - then there's a chance Nick will assemble his own team to stop them and the power-hungry Val.
It's hard to say right where we're heading, particularly in the midst of the Multiverse Saga. While Kang the Conqueror remains an ever-present threat, it appears Marvel Studios is also laying the groundwork for another, much smaller story about Val's secret machinations and even a possible World War Hulk project.
We'll see, but it makes all the sense in the world for Fury to be the one who takes Val down a peg or two.
The Marvels is set to be released in theaters on November 10.