Don Cheadle, who plays War Machine, teased that Disney+’s Secret Invasion series will set up an upcoming MCU film.
Based on the comic event series it will adapt alone, Secret Invasion was always expected to be an important piece of the MCU puzzle. That significance was underscored when Marvel Studios dubbed the Disney+ project the first “crossover event series.”
Martin Freeman, who plays Everett Ross, has since teased the crossover scale by referring to “the number of people crossing over with each other.” And the insane cast of 12 newcomer actors and characters from the MCU mythos has only emphasized the larger scale.
Given how the Secret Invasion comic event changed the Marvel universe by revealing several heroes as Skrulls, fans are expecting the Disney+ series to have a similar impact. While its overall impact on the MCU is unknown, one of the actors involved has revealed that it will set up at least one movie.
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The Iron Man spin-off film will be set up by a secret invasion
Don Cheadle, who plays James Rhodes in Secret Invasion, recently spoke with Total Film about how Secret Invasion will set the stage for his upcoming Armor Wars film, which was recently converted from a small to a big-screen production.
When asked about the MCU’s massive expansion since the end of the Infinity Saga, Cheadle called it “bananas,” before revealing that “a part of” Secret Invasion “kicks off what happens in Armor Wars:”
“It’s a banana! And it’s quite large. And now that everyone can appear in everyone else’s story… I mean, I’m in ‘Secret Invasion,’ you know. So I’m appearing on Sam [Jackson’s] show. There’s a piece of that that sets the stage for what happens in Armor Wars.”
The MCU mainstay then addressed recent quality concerns, expressing his hope that the franchise “doesn’t get spread too thin” and that “some quality control” is maintained:
“So, yeah, it can go on and on… Hopefully, it will not be overspread. And there is still some quality control, as opposed to simply expanding for the sake of expanding. However, there is a clear vision for the storytelling and what you hope to achieve with each iteration.”
The Cosmic Circus recently revealed Marvel Studios’ own quality concerns about the MCU’s Phase 4, noting that it will “re-evaluate future releases” and take steps to “establish more quality control moving forward.”
On the subject of Armor Wars, the actor teased War Machine’s solo spin-off, calling it an opportunity to “make him a three-dimensional dude” while also “[paying] off the Marvel stuff:”
“I don’t think we’ve ever really delved into him, and now is the time to dig deeper into his emotional life, interior life, relationships, trajectory, where he wants to go, and challenges. Obviously, you must pay off the Marvel debt. And be part of the character’s mythology and the MCU in general. But the goal is to flesh out this character and make him a three-dimensional character. So that makes me happy.”
How Will Armor Wars Be Teased by a Secret Invasion?
The fact that Secret Invasion is set to directly set up Armor Wars suggests that Don Cheadle’s Rhodey will play a significant role in the Disney+ series. However, given that the entire cast is currently made up of spies, Skrulls, and government agents, it’s unclear whether he’ll actually suit up as War Machine this time around.
Of course, any advancement in Rhodes’ character would be crucial in preparing for Armor Wars, especially given that his only post-Endgame appearance has been a cameo in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Fans have yet to see how the death of Rhodey’s best friend, Tony Stark, has affected him in recent years.
Cheadle’s phrase “a part of [Secret Invasion]… kicks off what happens in Armor Wars” suggests he is referring to story direction rather than character development. Could Rhodey have been a Skrull the whole time? That would certainly shake things up for his solo MCU appearance.
Armor Wars only recently made the transition from Disney+ series to blockbuster status, as Marvel Studios believed the story was too big for the small screen. Clearly, this will be a much more important part of the MCU than was previously assumed, especially since it is now branching out of Secret Invasion.
This year, Secret Invasion will be available exclusively on Disney+. Armor Wars has yet to announce an official release date or time frame.
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