How Marvel’s Biggest Flop Secretly Saved the MCU

Summary

Secret Invasion’s failure led to creative overhaul at Marvel Studios, impacting future movies & TV shows.
Armor Wars script undergoing massive revisions post-Secret Invasion backlash, changing original pitch.
Marvel Studios scaling back on projects post-Secret Invasion to focus on quality control and prioritizing essential storylines.

Although Secret Invasion was generally considered a disappointing project in the MCU, it may have unexpectedly boosted the franchise’s quality. The poor-to-average reviews for the Disney+ series could have sparked a creative revamp within Marvel Studios, which might have significantly influenced the direction of their films and television shows moving forward.

In June 2023, a six-part Marvel Cinematic Universe miniseries titled “Secret Invasion” debuted. This series primarily focused on Nick Fury and Talos, an alien Skrull with shape-shifting abilities, as they uncovered a rebellious group of Skrulls who aimed to seize control of Earth by disguising themselves as humans. However, the production encountered several challenges in scripting, visual effects, and pace. Moreover, certain plot developments, particularly the controversial “Skrull Rhodey” twist, raised concerns for the continuity of the MCU.

Secret Invasion Fallout Leads to Big Changes

Armor Wars Script Undergoes Major Revisions

Based on a recent report by industry expert DanielRPK, it appears that the script for the upcoming movie “Armor Wars” is undergoing significant changes following the reaction to “Secret Invasion”. Originally planned for release in 2022, “Armor Wars” was initially conceived as a story centered around James Rhodes, aka War Machine, protecting Stark Industries from competitors looking to misuse Tony Stark’s technological legacy. However, according to the latest gossip, this original storyline will be completely overhauled, and the movie’s release date is now expected to be moved beyond “Secret Wars”.

The Armor Wars project has undergone another transformation, marking yet another change in its history. Originally planned as a six-episode TV series, it is now being developed into a full-length film. In an interview with TVLine back in October 2024, Don Cheadle discussed this format adjustment.

Absolutely! The word that stands out in that sentence for me is “switched.” [Laughs] Honestly, I can’t say where everything is at this moment. It seems like we’re experiencing a great deal of transformation, and only time will tell how things unfold.

It’s possible that financial limitations, particularly related to managing Tony Stark’s armors and the larger plot, became too challenging for smaller screen productions. Additionally, there was a chance to adapt an “Armor Wars” storyline, which was set during the 2015 “Secret Wars” comic event.

How Secret Invasion Creates Problems For Armor Wars

Will Marvel Acknowledge The Skrull Rhodey Twist?

The storyline of “Secret Invasion” intertwines with the “Armor Wars” predicament as it swaps Rhodey for a Skrull impersonator instead. Regrettably, the series didn’t reach its full potential or leave a substantial mark on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, this character change adds layers of complexity to the franchise. This means that Rhodey’s appearances following “Endgame” will require closer scrutiny, and the “Armor Wars” may need to account for these inconsistencies by offering explanations.

It remains intriguing to find out if Marvel Studios decides to delve into the consequences of the Skrull Rhodey revelation or instead dismiss many aspects of Secret Invasion, given its underperformance. The miniseries, which had a massive production budget of $212 million, unfortunately turned out to be both critically panned and financially unsuccessful. Despite attracting reasonable audience numbers, it fell short in terms of sustaining the project, particularly over the long term. Rumors hint that Secret Invasion was marred by production difficulties, off-screen drama, and ultimately resulted in the dismissal of some crucial personnel.

Marvel Splits Armor Wars Elements Into New Projects

Rhodey’s Story Changed After Skrull Twist

If “Armor Wars” had remained true to its initial plot where Rhodey uncovered misuse of Stark tech, it would have harmonized better with the broader MCU and its strategies. For instance, Riri Williams, a character known as Ironheart, could have significantly featured. Moreover, there was an opportunity for Ultron’s comeback and a narrative involving Damage Control reactivating Stark AI systems. However, the introduction of Skrull Rhodey in “Secret Invasion” disrupted this scheme, compelling Marvel to revise the entire concept of the film.

Changes are noticeable in some contemporary Marvel ventures, like “What If…?”, specifically Season 3’s Episode 5, titled “What If… The Emergence Destroyed the Earth?”, which reused aspects of the “Armor Wars” narrative. This episode portrayed a world where Mysterio seized Stark Industries and turned Iron Man technology into weapons. Concurrently, storylines revolving around Stark AI systems and possibly the return of James Spader as Ultron are anticipated to be delved into in the upcoming “Vision Quest”, slated for release between 2026 and 2027. Given that these narrative elements have been dispersed across other established/future projects, it seems unlikely that Marvel will proceed with the original “Armor Wars” concept.

Did Secret Invasion’s Failure Lead to A New Marvel Strategy?

Fewer Projects, More Focus On Quality Control

From a passionate cinephile’s perspective, I can’t help but ponder over the strategic shift at Marvel Studios. After inundating us with content, particularly in the post-“Endgame” phase, it seems like the underperformance of “Secret Invasion” may have prompted them to reconsider their approach.

In 2024, they took a bold step by releasing only one Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie, the blockbuster hit, “Deadpool & Wolverine.” This risky move, it appears, has been handsomely rewarded, given the film’s financial and critical acclaim.

Looking ahead, Marvel Studios is planning to release between two to three films annually and fewer Disney+ series to ensure better quality control. As a fan, I can only hope this strategy continues to yield success and maintain the high-quality storytelling we’ve come to expect from them.

The shift in strategy also impacts numerous Marvel ventures, some of which weren’t publicly declared but gained momentum through unverified leaks and whispers from insiders. To illustrate, there were rumblings that Emilia Clarke’s character G’iah, who appeared in Secret Invasion, was initially intended for a spin-off of Excalibur, a British equivalent to the Avengers featuring Captain Britain and Kit Harington’s Black Knight. However, with Secret Invasion‘s flop, it seems this project may have been postponed indefinitely or quietly scrapped.

Doomsday & Secret Wars Are MCU Priority #1

Non-Essential Shows Could Be Revived In X-Men Era

This follows Marvel’s ongoing strategy of putting less emphasis on projects that don’t directly contribute to the main narrative of “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Secret Wars.” This move is beneficial for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as these projects aren’t abandoned entirely, but rather held back for potential future use. After “Secret Wars,” Marvel may choose to focus on “X-Men” stories, at which point these projects could be revived. In the meantime, they are being kept in reserve alongside other ideas such as “Midnight Suns,” where characters like Black Knight and Mahershala Ali’s Blade might find a new home.

It seems that “Daredevil: Born Again” is Marvel’s first significant production under their revised TV approach, while shows such as “Ironheart” were developed using the old, hurried method, raising questions about their performance. Regrettably, productions like “Armor Wars” are being postponed, but Marvel’s reorganization might result in higher-quality content down the line.

2025-02-06 00:04