Unveiling the Enigmatic Lifespan of Skrulls

Marvel’s Secret Invasion takes audiences back to the world of the Skrulls in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, exploring their longevity in a narrative that takes place thirty years after the events of Captain Marvel. While the Skrulls have been a significant part of Marvel Comics, their presence in the MCU was not fully realized until Phase 3. However, Captain Marvel introduced a unique perspective on the Skrulls, with characters like Talos and his family seeking assistance from Carol Danvers in their battle against the Kree Empire.

Captain Marvel's journey seamlessly transitions into the first episode of season 1 of Secret Invasion. Despite Talos remaining a trusted ally of Nick Fury, not all Skrulls have chosen to align themselves with their cause. The timeline of Secret Invasion within the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be perplexing, partly due to the fact that Skrulls have a different lifespan compared to humans.

Skrulls Live For Around 200 Years In The Marvel Comics

In Marvel Comics, the Skrulls, who are technically evolved Deviants from the planet Skrullos, have a lifespan of over 200 years. Their unique Deviant physiology grants them the extraordinary ability to transform into any solid form they desire, be it a living organism or an inanimate object. This shapeshifting capability knows no bounds, except for the requirement of assuming a solid form. Essentially, the Skrulls possess bodies with limitless elasticity and plasticity, enabling them to retain a youthful appearance for centuries.

The Skrulls possess the ability to manipulate the size of their bodies, making it incredibly difficult to determine their age through visual observation alone. In the Marvel Comics universe, it is uncommon for Skrull characters to appear elderly, even in their natural forms. This extended lifespan of the Skrulls offers an explanation for the immense strength and enduring power of the Skrull Empire. To provide some perspective, the Skrull vs. Kree conflict, which was incorporated into the MCU film Captain Marvel, persisted for thousands of years. Hence, it can be inferred that the Skrulls in the Marvel Cinematic Universe likely share a similar lifespan with their counterparts in the comics.

How Old Every Major Skrull In Secret Invasion Is

Marvel’s Secret Invasion centers around several Skrull characters, including Talos, portrayed by Ben Mendelsohn in the MCU. Talos was first introduced in Captain Marvel, which is set in 1995. He has since made appearances in Spider-Man: Far From Home and Secret Invasion. Soren, Talos' wife, portrayed by Sharon Blynn, is believed to have died offscreen sometime between Far From Home and Secret Invasion. G’iah, played by Emilia Clarke, is another character introduced in Captain Marvel, but as a child. Lastly, Gravik, portrayed by Kingsley Ben-Adi, is anticipated to be the primary antagonist in Secret Invasion. By considering the characters' human appearances and the Skrull lifespan, we can estimate their ages in the MCU as follows:

Talos: ~136 years old, as confirmed by Nick Fury.

Soren: ~130 years old, assuming she was around the same age as Talos when she died.

G’iah: ~85 years old.

Gravik: ~85 years old.

Beto, portrayed by Samuel Adewunmi, is a new Skrull recruit in Secret Invasion. Both G'iah and Gravik treat him as if he belongs to a younger generation compared to themselves. While Talos and Soren are considered leaders among the Skrulls and are relatively old in Skrull years, the Skrull revolution infiltrating Earth goes against Talos' desires for his people. This suggests that Gravik is at least one generation younger than Ben Mendelsohn's character. Similarly, G'iah, who was just a child during the events of Captain Marvel, also falls into this younger generation category.

New episodes of Secret Invasion release every Wednesday on Disney+.