THE Los Angeles premiere for the Marvel series – partly filmed in St Helens – took place on Tuesday, with stars Samuel L. Jackson, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman and Ben Mendelsohn gracing the red carpet.
Secret Invasion was partly filmed on an industrial lane in St Helens in February 2022 owned by glassmaker Pilkington at Ravenhead, near to the Watson Street site.
There was also a large set up of trailers at the rear car park of Saints' stadium - a short distance from where filming took place.
The show – which is a spin-off of the Marvel series, with Jackson reprising his role of S.H.I.E.L.D boss Nick Fury, who goes into battle once again with a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls.
Mendelsohn also returns to the franchise as the Skrull leader Talos, as does Canadian actress Cobie Smulders – who plays Maria Hill.
British stars Colman and Clarke make their debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), playing special agent Sonya Falsworth and G’iah, respectively.
Speaking to the PA news agency at the Los Angeles premiere of Secret Invasion on Tuesday, Clarke said: “I can’t believe I’m here, it feels absolutely amazing.
“Getting to work with this cast was a true privilege, getting to watch people who I admire so much who are legitimate, bonafide movie stars – it was wonderful.”
Asked what had attracted her to the project, she replied quickly: “Olivia Colman, Sam Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Marvel – done.”
The actress said the new series was “very grounded” and that there was “urgency” to the show that would keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
“There’s something very modern about this approach because the core of the show has a very timely message,” she told PA.
“And sometimes we need a fantastical, magical realism world to be able to access those kinds of thoughts without preaching or being overly political.
“The audience will have a good time with it, but there’s an urgency to this show that kind of keeps you on the edge of your seat – it’s new but it’s Marvel-ified.”
Clarke, who is best known for her role as Daenerys in Game of Thrones, said that viewers would see her in a role unlike those she had previously played, who was “intense and brooding,” but added that she was “not a badass in real life at all”.
Secret Invasion arrives exclusively on Disney+ on June 21.
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