Shocking Revelation: Marvel's Skrull Rhodey Unveils Jaw-Dropping Endgame Theory

Summary

Rhodey has been substituted with a Skrull imposter ever since the occurrences of Civil War, thereby losing involvement in significant occurrences within the MCU, namely the Battle of Wakanda and the Blip.

Rhodey, the real one, remains oblivious to Tony Stark's demise in Avengers: Endgame and the subsequent funeral. His prolonged stasis has kept him completely unaware of these events.

Surprisingly, even Nick Fury, with his Skrull encounter and reputation as a paranoid superspy, remained ignorant of Rhodey's true identity until the occurrences of Secret Invasion. This revelation raises doubts about Fury's level of awareness and participation.

Marvel's Secret Invasion finale confirms the darkest theory surrounding Rhodey (Don Cheadle) and the events of Avengers: Endgame. After the reveal that Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes had been replaced by a shape-shifting Skrull impostor, the main question became when exactly War Machine was swapped. Now, Secret Invasion episode 6 appears to have confirmed the tragic truth and its significant ramifications.

In Secret Invasion episode 4, it was officially revealed that Rhodey was indeed a Skrull, infiltrating the White House as an advisor to US President Ritson (Dermot Mulroney). As such, it was the Skrull impostor's mission to provoke conflict between the US and Russia, ultimately leading to a devastating nuclear war that would facilitate the Skrulls' takeover of Earth. However, the finale episode of Secret Invasion seems to have confirmed the extent of the real Rhodey's absence in the MCU.

Secret Invasion Strongly Suggests Rhodey Was Replaced After Civil War

Contrary to the other captives who were replaced by Skrulls, the true Rhodey can be identified by the hospital gown he wears. Released by Gi'ah, Talos' daughter, Rhodey is informed that he has been in stasis for an extensive period of time. The injuries he sustained in Captain America: Civil War have left his legs immobile, evident by the absence of the leg braces he acquired subsequently. Consequently, it is implied that Rhodey was substituted by a Skrull while still in the hospital, a staggering nine years prior to the events in Marvel's Secret Invasion.

This revelation carries significant implications. It suggests that Rhodey's War Machine was actually an extraterrestrial shape-shifter for nearly an entire decade in the MCU. As a result, the real Rhodey missed not only the Battle of Wakanda during Avengers: Infinity War, but also the subsequent five-year period known as the Blip. Additionally, this revelation holds a far more somber consequence: the genuine Rhodey likely missed the events of Avengers: Endgame, a profoundly tragic twist given the fate of his closest friend, Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man.

Rhodey Doesn't Know Tony Stark Is Dead

As soon as it is revealed that Rhodey has been replaced by a Skrull since Civil War, it becomes evident that he would have no recollection of the last two Avengers movies. This is particularly heartbreaking considering Iron Man's demise in Avengers: Endgame, where he selflessly sacrificed himself to defeat Thanos and his army, utilizing the Infinity Stones. The genuine Rhodey is most likely unaware of his best friend's death and the subsequent funeral depicted at the conclusion of the 2019 film, during which the Skrull imposter was seemingly posing as Rhodey.

This was a widely discussed theory before the conclusion of Secret Invasion. However, some doubted its plausibility, as it would significantly alter Rhodey's character development in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, essentially depriving him of his significant role in the last two Avengers films and preventing him from mourning Tony's loss. Nonetheless, the confirmation of this tragic twist has now intensified the anticipation surrounding Rhodey's upcoming Armor Wars movie, as it will inevitably delve into the profound emotions War Machine will experience once he becomes aware of everything he missed while under Skrull captivity.

How Did Fury Miss Rhodey Was A Skrull After Endgame?!

It is surprising that Nick Fury was unaware of Rhodey being a Skrull until the events of Secret Invasion, despite his extensive experience with Skrulls in the MCU. It prompts the question as to why Fury didn't realize Rhodey's true nature after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Given Fury's history as a paranoid superspy and his familiarity with Skrulls, one would think he would have been able to figure it out during the years leading up to and following the Blip. However, Secret Invasion confirms that Fury spent most of his time off-world, managing the space station SABER, which will be featured in the upcoming MCU movie The Marvels. This suggests that Fury may have been too preoccupied to uncover the truth about Rhodey until the events of Marvel's Secret Invasion show. Regardless, it is noteworthy that Marvel Studios has seemingly validated the darkest and most tragic theory fans had regarding Rhodey's Skrull status in the MCU.