Secret Invasion Director Debunks Major Character Cameo Theory

:0:1

Secret Invasion will not include a rumored major Marvel Cinematic Universe character cameo, as the series' director has debunked the theory. Disney+'s Secret Invasion focuses on Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury trying to stop the shape-shifting Skrulls from taking over Earth. Secret Invasion's cast features a nice blend of returning MCU stars and newcomers to the franchise; however, one major character that was rumored to appear in the series is not going to be meeting Jackson's Fury just yet.
Speaking with SFX Magazine (via The Direct), Secret Invasion director Ali Selim revealed that Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra de Fontaine will not appear in the series. The director commented that he is "not sure how that ended up there!" Selim then went on to explain his stance on cameos, saying that while he hopes there are enough surprises in the show in terms of the story, cameos are "less interesting" to him. Check out the full quote below:

Those things on the internet are quite funny. [Contessa Valentina actress] Julia Louis-Dreyfus is not in the show… I’m not sure how that ended up there!It’s all about surprise, intention and reveal, and repeat. I hope there’s a lot of that in there. But in terms of cameos, that’s less interesting to me than the heart of the story, which I think we really found, and the heart of that story is: ‘Who can you trust?’

Why Fans Should Not Expect Many Cameos In Secret Invasion

Marvel fans waiting for major cameos in the series will be disappointed, as Secret Invasion will feature no Avengers during its run. Don Cheadle's Rhodey is the best it is going to get, as the story focuses on Nick Fury trying to win the war against the Skrulls on his own. Fury did express some concerns about the Skrulls, led by Gravik, impersonating the Avengers if they were to show up, as the series' story reason for their absence.
In much simpler terms, it is impossible for Secret Invasion, which is based on a major Marvel Comics event, to keep the same scope of the story it is based on due to its medium. Secret Invasion happening on Disney+ limits what characters can make appearances, as budget constraints make it difficult for one or multiple high-profile heroes to appear.
While Secret Invasion featuring the Avengers and other major MCU characters like Val would have been cool, the show is interesting enough just focusing on the personal connection between Fury and the Skrull invasion. It is Fury's own failure to help the Skrulls after decades that set Gravik on his path for revenge, so it is only right that Jackson's character is the one to clean up his own mess. While Brie Larson's Captain Marvel would have made sense due to her connection to the conflict, Fury's appearance in The Marvels could explain why Carol Danvers was unable to help him during Secret Invasion.
Source: SFX Magazine (via The Direct)
Key Release Dates