Marvel Reportedly Has Big Future Plans For Oscar-Winner Olivia Colman After Secret Invasion Show

By Aeron Mer Eclarinal Updated:
Olivia Colman, Marvel movies

Secret Invasion seems poised to drastically change the MCU like never before as it is inspired by the comic book of the same name that altered the Marvel Comics landscape. 

The upcoming Disney+ series will feature the return of Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn's Talos from 2019's Captain Marvel, and the pair will be joined by a stellar cast of actors and actresses. Joining Jackson and Mendelsohn are Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore), Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night in Miami), and Olivia Colman (The Crown). 

The secrecy surrounding Secret Invasion has been tight since the roles of the reported cast members are still being kept under wraps.

Aside from the characters, plot details also remain scarce, but Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige did tease that the series will feature fewer characters and that it will tap into the "paranoia" elements that the comic is known for. 

Now, new details about one of the Secret Invasion characters have been revealed. 

Details About Olivia Colman's MCU Character Reported

Secret Invasion Olivia Colman
Marvel

Murphy's Multiverse shared new details about Olivia Colman's MCU character who is set to debut in 2022's Secret Invasion

The outlet revealed that Colman is portraying a mysterious spy with a commanding "Fury-esque" presence. Similar to Nick Fury, Murphy's Multiverse further unveiled that Colman's character will serve as a puppeteer who does and has done a lot of her dirty work behind the scenes. 

Lastly, the outlet noted that Colman, who has won both an Academy Award and an Emmy for her acting work in The Favorite and The Crown, respectively, will return to the role in other MCU projects down the road. 

Olivia Colman Has a Bright MCU Future 

The fact that even insiders have no idea about the exact name of Olivia Colman's MCU character goes to show the tight secrecy surrounding Secret Invasion. Given that there are many notable spies in the pages of Marvel Comics, there is a wide array of possibilities for Colman's character. 

Based on the report, it seems plausible that Colman's role will have huge ties to Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury. It's even possible that The Crown actress will play an original character without any background from Marvel Comics, allowing the studio to create many story opportunities. 

If the actress is indeed playing a character from Marvel Comics, one possibility would be SWORD leader/commander Abigail Brand. The MCU has already showcased the debut of SWORD during WandaVision, and the leadership position has been vacated due to Tyler Hayward's arrest at the end of the series. 

Abigail Brand
Marvel Comics

It's possible that Brand was promoted after the events of the Elizabeth Olsen-led Marvel series, thus playing a major role in Secret Invasion. This could also fit Murphy's Multiverse description of Colman's character as a mysterious spy with a commanding "Fury-esque" presence.  

Interestingly, back in 2016, Colman expressed her interest in playing a "Marvel baddie," admitting that she wants to portray a "powerful, extraordinary woman." Given that Abigail Brand is not really a villain, there's a chance that Colman could end up playing Veranke aka the Skrull Queen. 

Queen Veranke
Marvel Comics

Veranke is the one who orchestrated the Skrull invasion on Earth, posing as Jessica Drew aka Spider-Woman to infiltrate Earth's Mightiest Heroes. This would fit the puppeteer tidbit of Murphy's Multiverse's scoop, and it would align with the idea that she will have future appearances, potentially in The Marvels after Secret Invasion

Secret Invasion is currently in production, and it will premiere on Disney+ sometime in 2022. 

- In This Article: Secret Invasion
Release Date
June 21, 2023
Platform
- About The Author: Aeron Mer Eclarinal
Aeron is a news/features writer and Content Lead for The Direct who has been working for the site since March 2020. From writing about the inter-connectivity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to having an extended knowledge about DC TV's Arrowverse, Aeron's expertise has since expanded into the realm of reality TV, K-drama, animated, and live-action shows from Netflix,  Disney+, Prime Video, MGM+, Peacock, Paramount+, and Max. When he isn't writing and watching all things MCU, Aeron is heavily invested with the NBA (go Celtics!) and occasionally watches thrilling matches in the WWE.