The Kree-Skrull War, an influential story arc in Marvel comics from 1971–72, spills onto the big screen in CAPTAIN MARVEL — with a spin. The centuries-old conflict serves as a “mythical underpinning” for the film, producer Jonathan Schwartz said, and will likely feature a more contained cast of Marvel characters.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Krees and Skrulls, they are two distinct alien races. The Krees are blue-skinned humanoid aliens with super strength and speed; the Skrulls are green-skinned and have the ability to shapeshift into various forms.
In Marvel comics, the Kree-Skrull War starts in space, but overflows to Earth. There is also an element of paranoia surrounding the Skrulls, which will be shown in CAPTAIN MARVEL, but in a different way. The fact remains: “[The Skrulls] are not to be trusted. They can shapeshift into anybody, and that makes them super dangerous,” Schwartz said.
The Skrulls
In CAPTAIN MARVEL, Ben Mendelsohn plays the Skrulls’ battle commander, Talos. He is an “active” shapeshifter, changing forms often. “We can be anyone,” Mendelsohn said, “and we’re stronger than the rest of them [in the MCU].” While in character, he described the Krees as punks and the Skrulls as misunderstood. “They just want a place to call their own,” Mendelsohn said. But don’t let him fool you — they’re “good at getting inside of people.”
The Krees
Jude Law plays the commander of Starforce, an elite special forces team of Kree warriors. Each member has unique fighting abilities: Korath (Djimon Hounsou) is a swordsman; Minn-Erva (Gemma Chan) is a sniper; Bronchar (Rune Temte) uses his fists; Att-Lass (Algenis Perez Soto) wields pistols; Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) emits Photon Blasts; and Law’s character is a “pistol and knife man” who can manipulate gravity.
As not only the leader of Starforce, but also the poster boy of the Kree military, Law’s character is “judgmental and full of hatred” toward the Skrulls, calling them despicable. The Krees, on the other hand, “have a kind of purity about them and an honesty,” Law said.
Ronan (Lee Pace) — before he became the “radical zealot,” in Schwartz’s words, we know from GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY — was a member of the Kree military, and he intersects with Starforce “in an interesting way,” Schwartz said.
We will have to wait to find out what he means when CAPTAIN MARVEL opens March 8, 2019. Continue to check back on our blog for the latest updates.
