Following the riveting end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, fans are already making predictions over the potential Skrull candidates in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the Secret Invasion series reportedly casting Olivia Colman, viewers think that Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and Emily VanCamp's Sharon Carter could be shape-shifting agents trying to destabilize Earth or going to extreme measures to protect it. While the jury's still out, the show may have already revealed who will be the MCU's next big Avenger, and at the same time, its 'Mad Queen.'
This may be none other than Emilia Clarke, famous for playing Daenerys Targaryen on the highly-acclaimed HBO hit series, Game of Thrones. Clarke's role has been kept mysterious but given her star-power, she may well be playing Jessica Drew, aka Spider-Woman. It'd make sense as Earth's Mightiest Heroes need new faces, with Steve Rogers gone, Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff dead, and Thor in space with the Guardians of the Galaxy.
With S.W.O.R.D. in full swing after WandaVision, Jessica could easily be introduced as one of their operatives, like she was with S.H.I.E.L.D. in the comics. Created by Archie Goodwin, Sal Buscema, Jim Mooney and Marie Severin, in the '70s, Jessica Drew was experimented on by the High Evolutionary before being co-opted by Hydra. On her first mission, she betrayed them and joined the side of good. Seeing as her background is similar to Black Widow as well as Wanda and Pietro Maximoff in the MCU, she could be introduced as an agent who switched sides.
While they're not related in the comics, Jess's MCU origins could even be tied to the science behind Peter Parker's Spider-Man. With her Venom blasts, it's easy to see her becoming a popular figure in the team, which is what happened in the books when she joined Brian Michael Bendis' New Avengers. The problem is, just as in that story, Jess wouldn't be in it for the rebuild: she'd actually be undercover, with her real identity being Queen Veranke of the Skrull Empire.
In Captain Marvel, the Kree were obliterating the Skrulls, who became sympathetic refugees. With Nick Fury traversing the galaxy to help find the aliens a new home and Talos on Earth in his stead, the stage is set for Veranke to target the planet with her secret sect. In Secret Invasion, she was an exiled queen who promised to find her extremist people a new home. In the adaptation, that angle could be reworked into someone seeking out traitors as part of the plot to infiltrate and conquer Earth.
It syncs up with Clarke's role as Dany, a liberator who promised the people she saved a new home, which is why she destroyed King's Landing and wanted to rule Westeros with an iron fist. Clarke is perfect for the role of Veranke, having already played a 'Mad Queen' burdened by being a savior and seeking any means necessary to get the job done. And like the comics, once the invasion is stopped and the real heroes are rescued, Clarke could then play a heroic Spider-Woman in the MCU. It's a win-win, allowing Clarke to be both the hero and villain, ultimately coming off as two faces that'll help define the future.
Secret Invasion stars Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn and Kingsley Ben-Adir. The series has yet to receive a premiere date.