Amidst the many MCU releases to look forward to on Disney+ in 2023, Secret Invasion is perhaps the most important of them all, thanks to one intriguing detail. The series is among the stacked slate for Phase 5, starting with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and is based on the incredibly consequential crossover series published only in 2008. While it will still center on a Skrull infiltration into all aspects of life on Earth, Secret Invasion won’t be as big of a crossover as its source. Instead, the Disney+ series will be more intimate, focusing primarily on Nick Fury.

Currently, there is no official release date for Secret Invasion. However, according to the Phase 5 release roap revealed at SDCC, it is expected to release in the Spring of 2023. Secret Invasion does have a hurdle to overcome as Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far from Home had set up the Skrulls as relatively benevolent people, so there might be some careful retcons coming.

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Why Secret Invasion Is So Important For Marvel's 2023

Secret Invasion: Nick Fury and an angry Skrull.

Compared to the 2023 slate, Secret Invasion stands far out from the crowd. While it does continue an established story, Secret Invasion is not a true sequel. That’s all there is in 2023, both in theaters and on Disney+ - sequels, direct spin-offs, and second seasons. Secret Invasion is the most original of the bunch. Ironheart and Echo are just spin-offs of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Hawkeye, respectively, while Secret Invasion cleverly ties together subtle breadcrumbs left in various projects since Captain Marvel - or possibly before if Skrulls were actually teased in Jessica Jones in 2018.

As the presumed first tv show of 2023 for the MCU, Secret Invasion will essentially set the pace for the year on Disney+. This is important because 2022 was a relatively shaky year in that regard. While there is certainly much to appreciate about Moon Knight or Ms. Marvel, they didn’t always have the best reception from fans and critics alike. With its spy-thriller genre and established foundations, Secret Invasion could fare better. Aptly, it will set up superhero movies coming in 2023 - in some regard, so it will also feel more inherently integrated into the overarching MCU.

How Secret Invasion Could Define MCU Phase 5

Secret invasion Nick fury the avengers skrulls

Secret Invasion could be incredibly consequential for the rest of Phase 5 and beyond. It’s already been established that it’s connected to Thunderbolt Ross as a key figure in Phase 5, and Secret Invasion has a role in that.

Ever since Secret Invasion was announced, a question has hung over nearly every MCU project - whether anyone in it was secretly a Skrull. Depending on the series’ resolution, Secret Invasion will certainly exacerbate those theories. Though fans currently don’t know who might be a Skrull or not, one thing in Secret Invasion is no longer secret - Emilia Clarke’s role. She will be playing Abigail Brand, an agent for SWORD and, importantly, a mutant. Secret Invasion continues the trend of integrating mutants, ramping up anticipation for the X-Men’s arrival. Altogether, Secret Invasion will establish key storylines that the rest of Phase Five will continue to develop to their fruition.

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Key Release Dates