"Promises" is the second episode of the American television series Secret Invasion, based on Marvel Comics comic book crossover Secret Invasion. It follows Nick Fury trying to prevent a Skrull insurgency following a rebel faction, led by Gravik, staging an explosion in Moscow, Russia. The episode is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. It was written by Brian Tucker and Brant Englestein, and directed by Ali Selim.
Samuel L. Jackson reprises his role as Nick Fury from previous MCU media, along with Ben Mendelsohn as Talos, with Kingsley Ben-Adir, Charlayne Woodard, Killian Scott, Samuel Adewunmi, Christopher McDonald, Katie Finneran, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, and Don Cheadle also starring. Selim joined the series by May 2021 to direct all episodes. The episode received mixed reviews, with some critics noting the improved exposition and praising the performances (particularly those of Jackson, Mendelsohn, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Colman, and Cheadle) but expressing issues with the writing and the revelation of Fury's wife, Priscilla, to be a Skrull.
"Promises" was released on Disney+ on June 28, 2023.
Plot
In 1997, Nick Fury meets a young Gravik and consoles him while giving a speech to the Skrull immigrants, promising to find them a new home. In the present day, after escaping from the bombing attack, Fury learns from Talos that there are a million Skrulls living on Earth amongst the humans. An angered Fury parts way with Talos, and later meets with Maria Hill's mother, Elizabeth, to explain the circumstances of her death. As the United States is implicated in the bombing attack, Gravik meets with members of the Skrull Council, who express disapproval of his actions. Gravik reminds the Council of Fury's failure to deliver on his promise, and appoints himself the new Skrull General with the majority in favor. Council member Shirley Sagar, who refuses to submit, secretly contacts Talos, who asks her to set up a meeting between him and Gravik. In London, Fury meets with Colonel James Rhodes and explains to him the Skrull threat. To Fury's dismay, Rhodes gives him a military discharge, due to his presence at the bombing attack which escalated the tension between the United States and other international governments. Sonya Falsworth arrives at a butcher shop, where one of the Skrulls, Brogan, is imprisoned, and interrogates him. She learns that Gravik is building a machine for the purpose of strengthening the Skrulls, and a scientist couple named Dalton is involved. G'iah secretly discovers that the Skrulls are experimenting on various alien samples. Afterwards, she accompanies Gravik on a mission to rescue Brogan. Suspecting him of having talked, Gravik has Brogan executed. Later, Fury returns to his home where he is greeted by his wife, Priscilla, who is clandestinely a Skrull.
Production
Development
In September 2020, Kyle Bradstreet was revealed to be developing a television series for the streaming service Disney+ centered on Nick Fury, which was revealed that December to be Secret Invasion. Samuel L. Jackson was reprising his role as Fury, co-starring with Ben Mendelsohn in his MCU role of Talos. Ali Selim joined the series in May 2021 to direct, originally to split the episodes with Thomas Bezucha; Bezucha left the series before production began, and Selim ultimately directed all six episodes. Marvel Studios' Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, and Jonathan Schwartz served as executive producers on the series alongside Jackson, Selim, Bradstreet, and Brian Tucker. The second episode, titled "Promises", was written by Tucker from a teleplay by Tucker and Brant Englestein.
Writing
The character Rosa Dalton is introduced in the episode, a scientist working with the Skrulls researching various DNA samples for the Harvest project. Some of these DNA samples include Groot, Cull Obsidian, a Frost Beast, and the Extremis virus, which was theorized to lead to the creation of the MCU's version of the Super-Skrull.