While winning an Oscar is obviously a huge deal for actors, making an appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a bit of an achievement in itself. Even though Olivia Colman’s casting for the Disney+ series Secret Invasion thrilled us, we could not help but wonder why she wanted to join the cast. Now that we know, she is a fan as well.
The idea behind the show was something that viewers had been eagerly anticipating, but the Disney+ series received a mixed reception. And it was not expected. Despite this, in a recent interview, Colman appeared to be constantly raving about how much she loves the MCU.
Helmed by Ali Selim, the series was adapted into a six-episode miniseries that starred Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Colman, who is renowned for her stirring performances in projects like The Crown and The Favourite, took on the role of Sonya Falsworth, an MI6 agent and former ally of Fury.
Olivia Colman’s Unexpected Marvel Admiration Amidst Secret Invasion Backlash
With a current Rotten Tomatoes score of 52%, Disney+’s Phase Five series Secret Invasion has drawn criticism for a variety of issues, including pacing and writing issues that made it an unanticipated mess rather than a success. Unquestionably, though, it has an exceptionally talented cast, headed by Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
As the Skrulls Talos and G’iah, respectively, Ben Mendelsohn and Emilia Clarke accompany Jackson on this journey. Olivia Colman, the winner of an Academy Award, is the most unexpected addition to this group.
And even she can’t stop gushing about the MCU. Colman expressed her love for Marvel and the opportunity to be a part of such a huge franchise in a recent interview with the Happy Sad Confused podcast. In jest, she remarked:
“I love Marvel, not ashamed to say it. I was very excited to be in a Marvel project… I love the fact that they can pay you so much.”
Although the focus of the series was supposed to be on Nick Fury and his adventures, Secret Invasion did introduce a host of amazing new characters. Colman’s portrayal of Sonya Falsworth is among the best because she is not who her admirers initially believed her to be.
A spy thriller such as Secret Invasion feeds off of surprises; instead of the villain that viewers were expecting, they got a somewhat sadistic hero. Colman referred to her character as a “villainous hero” in an interview with Sky News, while Jackson further stated that she is a “totally, totally gangster”.
The six-episode Disney+ series, directed by Ali Selim, debuted on June 21, 2023, and ran until July 26.
Ali Selim Won’t Be Disappointed if Emilia Clarke & Olivia Colman Don’t Return to the MCU
While Olivia Colman and Emilia Clarke rose to prominence in the MCU quickly as stars of the Disney+ limited series Secret Invasion, it is possible that they will be among those many new characters who are never seen again. Director Ali Selim is cool with it, even if that is the case, because he thinks their characters’ arcs were satisfactorily resolved in the show.
Selim told TheWrap:
“For me, the Olivia Colman/Emilia Clarke, Sonya/G’iah moment at the end, I think it does set up something really potentially interesting. But I think it’s also a lovely resolution to the story. And if they never show up in the MCU again, I feel fulfilled.”
Nevertheless, there is currently no official word on Colman and Clarke’s future appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. On the work front, we last saw Olivia Colman in Wonka, the 2023 musical fantasy comedy flick directed by Paul King. The film starred Timothée Chalamet in the titular role.
All episodes of Secret Invasion are available on Disney+.
