Last summer, McDonald related to The Movie Dweeb (via ComicBook.com) that he was driving his car when he received the call from his agent and manager, telling him to pull over so they could relay the offer of his “Secret Invasion” and MCU role. He described it as “an actor’s dream” and said his reaction at the time was, “Wow! This is only something I’ve been praying for because it’s the number one thing that comes out of Hollywood.”
You can see how an actor might be excited about that kind of opportunity bringing them increased visibility, but for anyone who’s been experiencing a little superhero fatigue during Phase Four of the MCU, it also might be a bit depressing to hear that this studio that already holds a virtual monopoly over moviegoing has even got thespians more excited about it than, say, Shakespeare. As the MCU continues to expand in all directions, a growing feeling has set in that this franchise peaked with “Avengers: Endgame” and is now becoming “The Walking Dead” of the superhero multiplex: a story that never ends but just keeps shambling on indefinitely.
That said, Marvel stole the Comic-Con show with the announcement of its next two phases and the back-to-back “Avengers” movies that will conclude its newly christened Multiverse Saga in 2025. It’s as if they’ve got our whole lives planned out for us; who knows where any of us will be in 2025?
“Secret Invasion” doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s expected to help kick off Marvel’s Phase Five in early 2023.
