Olivia Colman in talks with Marvel to appear in Secret Invasion series

(Image credit: Lionsgate)

The Crown star Olivia Colman is currently in talks with Marvel to join the upcoming Disney Plus series Secret Wars alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

If Colman ends up joining the cast she’ll finally be fulfilling a wish to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe – a Marvel baddie, something she mentioned in an interview with Vulture a few years ago.

"I’ve always wanted to play a Marvel baddie," she said. "I’m not sure I fit the mold, though. Like a powerful, extraordinary woman. Somebody with superpowers would be really fun, but I’m not sure how many middle-aged women they have in Marvel… I imagine that dream is gone, but that would be amazing."

Marvel made no further comment regarding Colman's potential involvement.

The Disney Plus series will most likely be based on the same plot as the comic series written by Brian Michael Bendis in 2008. It featured a crossover event revealing the Skrulls – the shapeshifting aliens introduced to the MCU in Captain Marvel – had infiltrated Earth for several years while secretly capturing and then posing as some of the most powerful Marvel superheroes. There are currently several directors being eyed to helm a script from Mr. Robot series writer Kyle Bradstreet.

While we wait for Secret Wars, check out our list of the best shows on Disney Plus to watch right now, or catch up on everything we know about Marvel Phase 4.

Stephanie is a comic book historian and pop culture critic for publications including SYFYFANGRRLS, Marvel, The A.V. Club, Nerdist, Den of Geek, and Rotten Tomatoes. Stephanie is also a comic creator with three ongoing webcomics, Parenthood Activate!, But What If Though?, and Living Heroes. She made her Marvel debut with a short story featuring Monica Rambeau in Marvel’s Voices: Legacy. She recently made her DC Comics debut in Wonder Woman Black and Gold #2 and is co-writing the Nubia and the Amazons miniseries.