Marvel’s Secret Invasion is slated to premiere in early 2023 and will see the Skrulls infiltrate every aspect of Earth. The series will welcome back a number of familiar faces from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), including Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross, Ben Mendelsohn as Talos, Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, and Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rhodes. However, the cast will also welcome a number of new faces. Olivia Colman, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Emilia Clarke, Killian Scott, Christopher McDonald, and Carmen Ejogo have all been cast in Secret Invasion in undisclosed roles.
So far, rumors have hinted that Olivia Colman portrays an old ally of Fury, while Ben-Adir reportedly plays a villain. Other than that, there haven’t been many other details about who these new MCU stars will be portraying. Exclusive footage of Secret Invasion released at San Diego Comic-Con also didn’t shed any light on their identities, though it did give a few more details on the storyline. It is revealed that Fury has been absent from Earth for years, attending to affairs in space. He’s coming back a little more grizzled and grimmer, but the fact that he’s back at all shows this Skrull invasion is no ordinary threat.
With the Skrulls able to impersonate anyone, it will be difficult for the characters to know who to trust. Additionally, it may be hard for viewers to tell which characters are legit, and which are being impersonated by Skrulls. This will make the role of Coleman more interesting, especially if she is portrayed as an ally to Fury. There’s no doubt that Fury has made connections far and wide as the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., meaning Coleman could be anyone. However, one theory that has arisen is that she is Union Jack.
Who is Marvel’s Union Jack?
Fans of the MCU have actually seen Union Jack on the big screen before in Captain America: The First Avengers. J. J. Feild portrayed James Montgomery Falsworth in the film and is a British member of Steve Rogers’ (Chris Evans) squad of commandos. He isn’t called Union Jack in the film, but Falsworth was one of three individuals in the comics who took up the mantle of Union Jack. In fact, Falsworth was the first character attached to the alias.
Falsworth was a British nobleman who became a secret operative for the British government during World War I and World War II. He dressed in a costume that resembled the British flag and personified the fighting spirit of Britain. During World War I, he joined another team of heroes, Freedom’s Five, and waged war against the Germans and their agents, such as Blood Baron. When Falsworth retired, the mantle of Union Jack was taken up by his son, Brian. Though once a pacifist, Brian’s ideals changed when he was thrown in a German prison along with his friend, Roger Aubery. While in prison, he took the Super Soldier Serum and physically transformed himself.
Once freed, Brian discovered his father’s true identity and took up his mantle to continue his fight. However, his life was cut short when he was killed in a car accident in 1953. This would lead to the third, and current, Union Jack—Joseph Chapman. Chapman was a native of Manchester and a member of the working class, who became Union Jack after saving Falsworth’s life during one of his run-ins with Blood Baron. For much of his career, he has fought crime solo and is a hero for the common man.
Colman’s rumored Union Jack role, explained
If Colman’s role in Secret Invasion is Union Jack as rumored, it means she will be portraying a female version of the character. Also, the rumors have not specified which iteration of the Union Jack she is portraying, but some point to her character being called “Falsworth.” There’s a chance that she could be a descendant of the Falsworth we saw in Captain America: The First Avenger, who took up his mantle in the present day. Otherwise, it could mark a recasting of Falsworth, or she even could be playing the Chapman iteration. After all, Chapman was among the heroes who fought the Skrull invasion in the comic books.
Of course, these rumors have not yet been confirmed by Marvel and it remains to be seen who Colman will ultimately portray. However, Union Jack has a rich comic book history and ties to Secret Invasion that would certainly make a gender-swapped MCU iteration fruitful.
(featured image: Netflix)
