The first episode of Secret Invasion is now streaming on Disney+, and if you've read the Marvel Comics event that the series is named after, you should already have realized that this is far from a direct adaptation.
The basic premise of a shape-shifting alien race known as the Skrulls infiltrating positions of power on Earth and plotting to take over the planet remains the same, but the original story was much larger in scale and featured pretty much every major character in the Marvel Universe.
While speaking to Screen Rant, director Ali Selim, who helmed all six episodes of the shadowy espionage thriller, revealed that someone at Marvel Studios advised him to avoid the comics completely when he signed on to the project.
"The first thing I was told is don't read the comics," Selim said. "It had nothing to do with what we're trying to do here."
"This story was really born out of the electricity created between Sam Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn or Nick Fury and Talos in Captain Marvel," he continued. "And they said, 'Oh, we got to do something with that.' So they found a story that would serve that relationship and would expand the MCU and other characters who are not in the comic books. I think it's a story unto itself."
This happens more than you might think - especially when the TV series or movie in question is only loosely inspired by its source material - but it still tends to ruffle a few feathers!
What do you make of Selim's comments? Do you think the comic books should still be referenced? Be sure to share your thoughts down below.
"In Marvel Studios’ new series Secret Invasion, set in the present day MCU, Nick Fury learns of a clandestine invasion of Earth by a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls. Fury joins his allies, including Everett Ross, Maria Hill and the Skrull Talos, who has made a life for himself on Earth. Together they race against time to thwart an imminent Skrull invasion and save humanity."
The series stars Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Cobie Smulders, Martin Freeman, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Charlayne Woodard, Killian Scott, Samuel Adewunmi, Dermot Mulroney, Christopher McDonald, Katie Finneran, with Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, and Don Cheadle.
Ali Selim directs and executive-produces, along with fellow executive producers Kevin Feige, Jonathan Schwartz, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Samuel L. Jackson, Ali Selim, Kyle Bradstreet and Brian Tucker. Kyle Bradstreet is also the head writer, and Jennifer L. Booth, Allana Williams and Brant Englestein serve as co-executive producers.