Secret Invasion director Ali Selim put to rest the debate over how long Rhodey has been a Skrull in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Per ComicBook.com, the filmmaker explained that War Machine has been a doppelganger for approximately seven years, with the swap happening shortly after the events of the last solo Captain America film. “A lot of people have asked about, ‘Definitely, when did Rhodey…?’ I think his legs not working at the end of episode six and him being in the hospital gown points to Captain America: Civil War.” The moment the filmmaker is referring to is when Vision blasts War Machine with the Mind Stone during a battle with Iron Man, sending him crashing to Earth and rendering him paralyzed.
Despite Selim’s confirmation, many fans have pushed back on the clarification, noting that the Rhodey appeared to bleed red blood during the final battle in Avengers: Endgame. Both Captain Marvel and Secret Invasion established that Skrulls have green blood, suggesting that the real War Machine was present during the War for Earth. At the time of writing, it remains unknown whether this was intentional or a consistency error.
Secret Invasion’s Legacy
While Secret Invasion was hailed as a groundbreaking twist on the MCU, the series ultimately left audiences and critics disappointed. The finale currently boasts the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of any Disney+ show, with reviews insisting the narrative didn’t do enough to alter the world or advance any character arcs. One of the more popular aspects of the story was Rhodey’s inclusion, as many fans were shocked to discover that Tony Stark’s best friend was a Skrull secretly working for Gravik on a mission to bring down Nick Fury.
Another major MCU character Secret Invasion confirmed to be a Skrull was Martin Freeman’s Everett K. Ross, who was exposed in the show’s premiere episode. While it remains unknown when the changeover took place, Freeman believes it was relatively recent. “I don’t wanna play Ross as Skrull. I don’t wanna believe he’s been a Skrull this whole time, so I don’t,” the actor said. “That’s not what I’ve played. I’ve believed, all the time, in Ross’s integrity. I really enjoy playing Ross, as a Skrull or otherwise.”
Secret Invasion is now streaming in its entirety on Disney+.
Source: ComicBook.com