37-year-old James Anderson has kept his place in an attack where both Mark Wood and Chris Woakes have been passed fit
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‘Secret Invasion’ finale just blew away all your ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ fears
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Secret Invasion episode six.
Secret Invasion didn’t waste any time letting us know that Everett Ross had been one of the victims of the Skrulls. The character basically set the events of the Disney Plus show into motion in the first episode back in June, as he met a fellow CIA agent who had figured out that the Skrulls were infiltrating important organizations on Earth as well as enacting terrorist attacks.
Ross swiftly killed him, only to be chased down by Talos and get gunned down himself as his skin turned green and he reverted back to his Skrull form. Just in the first few minutes of the show, we learned that a recurring and fairly important character in the MCU had been a Skrull for an undefined period of time, effectively setting up the stage for more characters to possibly start showing their true alien selves.
It wasn’t until the finale, which aired Wednesday, July 26, that we were given a status update on the real Everett Ross. Thankfully, he is still alive and in much better condition than Rhodey — the other major Marvel character to be replaced by a Skrull. In fact, it’s the side-by-side comparison between the two men that gives us our biggest clue for how long Ross has been under the aliens’ control.
While Rhodey appears visibly emaciated, weak, and disoriented, Ross snaps out of the machine’s grip fairly quickly, immediately turning to the man on his right and asking how long he’d been there. It seems that the CIA agent had been abducted relatively recently, presumably after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Being blindsided by Marvel about the true identity of these characters doesn’t feel great. For Rhodey, the implications are immense given how long he’s probably been away, but for Ross, fans can rest a little easier knowing his deception didn’t last particularly long and what we saw in his prior outing was likely real.
Secret Invasion chose to not give us definitive answers, and instead feed us little hints that can help us put the pieces together ourselves. It’s possible that it will be a while before we know for sure just how long Ross had been replaced by a Skrull. Martin Freeman has been cryptic about when his next franchise appearance will be, telling Collider, “I never think I’ve got a future in the MCU.” It looks like we’ll have to wait and see, but for now, it’s somewhat safe to assume Ross’ past history as a character hasn’t been as severely damaged as his fellow government man.
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The 10 best animated movies like ‘Nimona’
Since Nimona is currently coasting with a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s safe to say that the Netflix production is making waves in the animated industry. Originally a Disney property, Nimona was canceled for explicitly showing a same-sex kiss on screen, but Netflix salvaged the project and made certain that it went ahead, much to the delight of LGBTQ+ viewers everywhere.
Despite being knocked out of the Top 10 early in its streaming run, there are already talks of Nimona getting a sequel, purely based on the overwhelmingly positive reception it received upon release. If you’ve already seen Nimona and find yourself looking to bridge the gap between long hiatus and the (maybe) sequel, there are a handful of other animated adventures that bare some striking similarities.
Moana
When Moana arrived in theaters back in 2016, it acted as a much-needed cultural reset for POC representation in children’s movies. Back in Disney’s Renaissance Era, we had our first-ever Asian princess in Mulan, then in the mid-2000s, we were given the very first Black princess, Tiana, in The Princess and the Frog. Ever since, Disney has been slow on the uptake of adding POC to new releases, but in the last half-decade, more and more POC and snagging lead roles.
One of Nimona‘s biggest draws is the complicated relationship between Nimona and Ballister, which blossoms from mere acquaintances to a father-daughter dynamic. The same can be said for Moana and Maui, who start out as enemies and become practically family, offering us a heartwarming brother-sister pairing.
Raya and the Last Dragon
With her recent stint as Scuttle in The Little Mermaid, Awkwafina has made a reputation for herself as the loveable animal sidekick. She started this trend in Raya and the Last Dragon, where she voices Sisu, the last surviving dragon who aids the warrior princess Raya in restoring the dragon gem to save her father and banish evil spirits from her land.
Raya and Sisu are an unlikely pair, but both are brave and passionate, so their friendship becomes the ultimate key to restoring the gem and saving the five tribes of Kumandra. Although Nimona and Ballister have a much more chaotic relationship than Raya and Sisu, both movies tell a story of one human and one super-powered being joining forces to defeat a common enemy.
Luca
As we find out in Nimona, the titular imp-demon is a shape-shifter, able to transform into any animal at will. We see Nimona become a shark, a rhino, and even prehistoric creatures such as dinosaurs. Essentially, she can shapeshift into any animal that has existed at any period in time. That same concept applies in Luca, albeit to a lesser extent. Rather than becoming any living creature, Luca was born a sea monster and discovers that he can transform into a human when on dry land.
Just as Luca finds solace in Alberto, a like-minded individual, the same can be said for Nimona, who assigns herself as Ballister’s sidekick after sensing a “villainous spirit” in him. Although Nimona simply wants to cause chaos and “break stuff,” Ballister is working to clear his name after Queen Valerin’s sudden death. Just as Nimona is looking to be accepted by society for her powers, Luca campaigns for humans and sea monsters to co-exist peacefully.
Onward
Another key selling point for Nimona is the action-packed adventure that the main characters embark on. As for Onward, the story follows two elf brothers who set out on a quest to obtain an artifact that will temporarily revive their deceased father. Their journey is chock-full of strange mysteries, head-scratching puzzles, and an exciting treasure hunt. The voices of Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as Ian and Barley, respectively, certainly make Onward more appealing, and that same fact applies to Nimona with Chloƫ Grace Mortez and Riz Ahmed in the lead roles.
Another theme consistent with both movies is the use of magic; Onward takes place in a world inhabited by mystical creatures, whereas Nimona is set in a medieval-futuristic kingdom primarily inhabited by humans and a handful of individuals endowed with magic. In both instances, the story’s core characters share a bond that acts as the driving force behind the narrative, so if it’s well-written characters with an endearing relationship that appeals to you, Onward is a must-see.
The Sea Beast
Nimona is the epitome of a disorderly father-daughter relationship, but The Sea Beast perfectly mimics that attribute. The story revolves around Jacob Holland, a sea monster hunter who teams up with an orphan girl named Maisie to find the elusive Red Bluster. In this scenario, Jacob is Ballister and Maisie is Nimona, as both pairings result in mayhem and hilarity. Both movies are essentially the same concept explored in different time periods under different circumstances.
It’s also worth noting that both are Netflix productions, so there’s some consistency in both the storytelling and the animation. There isn’t any magic involved like Nimona, but that certainly helps to give The Sea Beast more of a grounded feel as it focuses on pure human connection rather than over-the-top effects and surrealism.
Epic
An often overlooked animated feature, Epic released back in 2013 and starred the voices of Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, Colin Farrell, and Christopher Waltz. This action-adventure fantasy is based on William Joyce’s 1996 children’s book The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs and revolves around teenager Mary Katherine (M.K.) who gets shrunk and joins the civilization of a tiny woodland kingdom inhabited by slugs, flower people, and soldiers known as Leafmen.
Along the way, M.K. meets Nod, a rookie Leafman who becomes her eventual boyfriend. There are some similarities between M.K. and Nimona, namely how they are called upon to protect the kingdom they reside in, join forces with a high-ranking male soldier (or knight, in Nimona‘s case), and save the day despite coming from different walks of life and largely being misunderstood due to their species.
Big Hero 6
There’s no denying that Big Hero 6 is one of Disney’s greatest triumphs in the last decade, effectively crafting a more child-friendly version of Marvel’s Avengers. Not only are the protagonists exceedingly likable, as with Nimona, but Big Hero 6‘s central plot focuses on the bond that forms between Hiro and Baymax, which is just as unconventional as Nimona and Ballister. On one hand, you have a seemingly ordinary person, and on the other, you have a being of extraordinary power and resolve. Baymax and Nimona might not look like much, but they both pack a pretty big punch.
Both movies feature a mysterious antagonist — ‘The Director’ in Nimona and ‘Yokai’ in Big Hero 6 — who manipulates the protagonist in some way. For Hiro, his micro-bots are used as weapons. For Ballister, he’s framed for the murder of Queen Valerin. Both of these events trigger the main conflict in each story. Big Hero 6 stars the voices of Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, Daniel Henney, T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans Jr., Genesis Rodriguez, James Cromwell, and Alan Tudyk.
How To Train Your Dragon
In a much more on-the-nose manner, How To Train Your Dragon also deals with a wanna-be ‘warrior’ and a so-called ‘beast’ that’s been outcasted by a village. For centuries, the Nightfury was branded the most fearsome of all dragons, never to be seen by the naked eye for long enough to survive the encounter. Meanwhile, Hiccup wants to be a macho Viking like his father, the Chief of Berk. But when he corners a Nightfury, becoming the first Viking to do so, Hiccup can’t bring himself to kill it.
From there, Hiccup and Toothless (as the Nightfury is appropriately named) form an inseparable bond and convince Berk that Vikings and dragons can live harmoniously. Dragons are no longer viewed as savage beasts and instead work alongside humans as pets. The same applies in Nimona, as the titular shapeshifter is eventually accepted by society after saving the kingdom from a deadly threat. So if it’s a tale of acceptance you’re after, How To Train Your Dragon is a perfect match.
Wreck-It-Ralph
If there were ever a movie on this list that emulates Nimona to an absolute T, it would be Wreck-It-Ralph. There’s a brutish oaf who’s never truly fit in and whose friends turn against him and a little girl with an extraordinary gift that’s only ever viewed as a nuisance and a mistake. Both Nimona and Vanellope possess special abilities that are frowned upon by others, but they enlist themselves as the sidekick to another unfortunate soul and vow to help them clear their name.
In Ballister’s case, he’s looking to prove that he didn’t murder Queen Valerin, whereas Ralph is trying to prove his worth as more than just a stereotypical bad guy. Although they don’t see eye-to-eye at first, both pairs eventually become inseparable and succeed and convincing the world around them that they aren’t a threat. That pursuit forces them to cross paths with some common enemies, but the ultimate redemption is well worth the sacrifice.
Ron’s Gone Wrong
Directed by Jean-Philippe Vine in his feature directorial debut, Ron’s Gone Wrong focuses on Barney, a middle-school teenager who befriends a defective robot named Ron and must protect him from corporate employees who view Ron’s flaws as bad publicity and seek the B-bot to be destroyed. Both Ron’s Gone Wrong and Nimona feature a so-called ‘defective’ protagonist who society views as irredeemable.
In Nimona’s case, she’s considered dangerous due to her powerful shapeshifting abilities. As for Ron, his programming malfunctions make him much more human than regular bots, which inconveniences those around him and shines a bad light on Bubble’s CEO Marc Wydell. There’s also the matter of both Ron and Nimona sacrificing themselves (supposedly) to save those who deem them freaks, effectively clearing their names. Both of these stories focus largely on redemption in the face of adversity.
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IND vs WI 1st ODI Live Streaming: When and Where to Watch India vs West Indies Live Coverage on TV & Online
Check out the live streaming details for India and West Indies 1st ODI match to be played at the Kensington Oval Barbados
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‘Secret Invasion’ finale just teased the MCU arrival of Harrison Ford in the sneakiest way possible
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Secret Invasion episode six.
The Secret Invasion finale had a lot on its plate, not just concluding this story about a global crisis threatening to create World War III but also setting the stage for multiple upcoming MCU projects. While it arguably failed to do the first with as much aplomb as we’d like, to be fair to the episode it did move a few key pieces around on the board to where they need to be as Phase Five continues. That includes establishing the coming of Harrison Ford to the franchise in a very sneaky way.
Despite a Skrull literally dying to save his life back in episode four (R.I.P. Talos, you deserved so much better), President Ritson takes militant action against the Skrull population of Earth in the wake of his trusted advisor, Colonel “Rhodey” Rhodes, being outed as an alien imposter. His call to arms against the species creates an international atmosphere of fear and violence that leads to human vigilantes lashing out, costing the lives of innocent humans and Skrulls in the process.
Fury admonishes Ritson in the wake of his actions, telling him: “You took a bad situation and made it worse. That’s real one-term president stuff.” On the one hand, this was an effective low blow from Fury as it hit the politician where it hurts: with the threat that he’s ruined his chances of re-election. However, once you remember what’s coming in the MCU, Fury’s comment becomes not a threat but an entirely accurate prediction.
Harrison Ford is all set to enter the fray in summer 2024’s Captain America: Brave New World, in which he will take over the role of General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross from the late William Hurt. For this appearance, Ross will have been elected to the office of president himself. So clearly Fury’s warning is bang on the money. Ristson’s reckless, bloodthirsty handling of the Skrull situation costs him the next election, allowing Ross to take over the hot seat.
Whether Ross will be any better a leader for the free world remains to be seen, however, as it’s widely assumed he’ll serve as an antagonistic presence to Sam Wilson’s Sentinel of Liberty in the movie. But he can’t be any worse a president than Ritson, right?
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‘Secret Invasion’ finale threatens a devastating twist to one of the MCU’s longest friendships
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Secret Invasion episode 6.
What started out as one of the most promising MCU Disney Plus outings to date has concluded with a lackluster crammed finale, but at the very least Secret Invasion has answered some of our most pressing questions.
Although virtually everyone tuning in saw it coming, the reveal that Rhodey had been a Skrull for a while was still one of the show’s biggest plot points. The green-skinned alien impersonating him did a good job at severing most of the character’s relationships but was luckily found out halfway through. Still, the question remained about the fate of the real Rhodey and what the Skrulls might have done to him before stealing his identity.
The finale did at least ease everyone’s worries that the veteran MCU character could be dead but revealed a soul-crushing possibility in the process. Fury eventually killed Skrull-Rhodey as G’iah liberated the real people the rebels had been holding hostage in their hideout in Russia, among which was the real Colonel James Rhodes we have all known and loved since the very first Iron Man (well, kind of… you know what I mean).
After the initial relief of knowing he’s alive, Rhodey is shown to essentially be paralyzed from the waist down, which means he was still himself during the events of Captain America: Civil War in which he suffered a serious injury. At the end of that film, we see him start physical therapy, and by Avengers: Endgame he seems to have recovered. Granted, years of being stuck in a machine-induced trance could undo his progress, but there’s also a chance the character was abducted before he had ever regained control of his body, especially since he’s seen wearing what looks like a hospital gown. Marvel wouldn’t include and emphasize that specific detail if it wasn’t somewhat important.
This could mean Rhodey doesn’t even know Tony died during the Battle of Earth. While that alone is heartbreaking, the implications that he wasn’t allowed to at least try and protect his best friend, or be present at his funeral might be the most devastating of all.
Some have pointed out, however, that the existence of the Harvest — as the characters in Secret Invasion called the vial containing the DNA of most of the Avengers, obtained after the confrontation with Thanos — proves Rhodey was still himself during Endgame. Fury would have figured out a Skrull had taken over for him sooner by examining the DNA collected at the scene of the battle. Likewise, why would Gravik’s future allies be stealing the identity of one of Fury’s colleagues back then if their leader was still working for and loyal to Fury?
While this theory holds some weight, it’s also possible that Fury and his Skrull minions led by Gravik at the time weren’t interested in Rhodey’s DNA since he doesn’t have a superpower. And while Gravik seems to have only fully turned on Fury after he abandoned Earth on the heels of Thanos’ demise, it’s likely his confidence in him had been waning for some time. Maybe he had a back-up plan all along.
We will probably only know for sure how long Rhodey had been taken when the character finally steps into the limelight in his own solo project Armor Wars, expected to premiere in 2025, 17 years after the character made his first appearance in the MCU. And if our concerns about Tony’s death are confirmed, the upcoming film might be shaping up to be one of Marvel’s most upsetting chapters yet.
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'We Have Come Here to Win': Travis Head Admits Australia Got Lucky in Manchester But Focus Remains on Ending Long Ashes Wait
Australia haven't won an Ashes series on English soil since 2011
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