Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Secret Invasion

Marvel currently has a major question to answer: when was Don Cheadle's James Rhodes replaced as a Skrull in the MCU? Rhodey played a far larger role than expected in Secret Invasion: not only did he work in the White House and fire Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), but he also was revealed to be a impostor working for Kingsley Ben-Adir's villain, Gravik. And when G'iah (Emilia Clark) eventually rescues the real Rhodey from New Skrullos, he's told he's been under for "a long time," potentially changing the MCU in major ways. This comment inevitably caused instant debate about just how long has Rhodey been a Skrull.

In the wake of Secret Invasion's ending, the consensus points toward Rhodey being swapped out a lot earlier than was initially thought possible. While the theory does have evidence to back it up, it has severe implications for the last nine years of the MCU that must be considered when trying to discover when Rhodes was actually taken out of commission. With all the information that Marvel has released thus far, there are four popular theories that hold the most water. While they all have aspects that could prove them wrong, these theories seem to be the most likely possibilities.

Related: 10 Ways Secret Invasion Set Up Rhodey's Skrull Twist

4 Rhodey Was Replaced By A Skrull After Captain America: Civil War

During Captain America: Civil War, Rhodey is injured in a crossfire incident when Vision unwittingly shoots him out of the sky, causing him to lose the use of his legs. When he returns in the MCU, Rhodey has leg braces developed by Tony Stark that allow him to walk with physiotherapy. When G'iah rescues him at the end of Secret Invasion, he is seen wearing the same type of hospital gown that he wore in the hospital directly following his injury. That detail prompted viewers to speculate that he was likely taken hostage even before his physiotherapy, and the Rhodey seen later in the film is a Skrull.

This theory was backed up by Secret Invasion director, Ali Selim. In an interview with ComicBook.com, Selim said that Rhodey being unable to walk in Secret Invasion episode 6 seems to point to him being taken hostage during Captain America: Civil War. However, he also says that it isn't confirmed and that part of the fun of the reveal was in revisiting previous moments featuring Rhodey and trying to decide for themselves when he was swapped out.

With evidence pointing toward this theory, the ramifications of Rhodey being out of play for nine years (the time between (Captain America: Civil War and Secret Invasion) are considerable. There are many moments that take place during that extended timeframe, including the Blip, Endgame's escalation, and Tony Stark's death. As critics have pointed out, that reveal takes away from the emotional weight of those moments knowing that Rhodey wasn't himself.

3 Rhodey Became A Skrull Before Avengers: Endgame

If Rhodey didn't become a Skrull immediately following his injury in Civil War, it is possible he was swapped out prior to Avengers: Endgame, perhaps even before Avengers: Infinity War. With the hospital gown identified as key evidence, it's possible that Rhodey's replacement could have occurred during a follow-up appointment for his injury, but there are several issues with this theory.

In Secret Invasion episode 5, Fury discusses having DNA samples of nearly everyone involved in the final battle of Avengers: Endgame. If he collected a sample of Rhodey's blood following the battle, the deception would have been revealed immediately. The only way that he could have been a Skrull at the time would be if the Skrull Rhodey planted the original's blood at the battle scene before Fury got to it. That in turn would have required Rhodey's secret to have been a secret even from the Skrulls themselves. The unlikelihood of this would seem to debunk the possibility of this Skrull theory.

Additionally, Rhodey not being there for his best friend's sacrifice would deeply affect the gravity of that moment. Though it could potentially give the real Rhodey things to work through in upcoming Marvel movie Armor Wars, the scene would still be irrevocably changed in retrospect. Again, the effects of Rhodey's absence for this moment must be heavily weighed in these discussions.

Related: 1 Phase 4 Moment Hints The Exact Point The Skrulls Replaced That Avenger

2 Rhodey Became A Skrull After Avengers: Endgame

Of all the theories about when Rhodey became a Skrull, this is the one that seems to make the most logical sense on the Skrull side. With all the chaos following the Blip, it is likely that no one would notice a change in Rhodey. Others around him would likely chalk up the changes to grief or stress and not give him a second thought. Additionally, this would be an ideal time for Rhodey to solidify his political position ahead of Secret Invasion's events. Particularly with the events in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, having a Skrull in a position of influence would be extremely beneficial.

This brings up Rhodey's appearance in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. In Rhodey's only scene with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), Rhodey discusses the need for change and growth in the world after the Blip. Of course, these words could simply be normal conversation, meant to encourage Sam to take up the mantel of Captain America. However, they could also be construed as a Skrull planting small seeds of discontent and the need for change. With the added insight of Rhodey's Secret Invasion extremism, his mention of a new world and changed alliances gain an entirely different meaning:

Not only could Rhodey's words be construed as Skrull-oriented in this scene, but there is a possibility that Skrulls would want access to the super-soldier serum in play in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. According to an article by Collider, since Rhodey played such a critical role in the White House, he likely knew who was going to become Captain America next and would potentially have access to the serum. But beyond the prime opportunities for a Skrull in power at this time, there is no real indications that Rhodey had been replaced.

1 Rhodey Was Replaced By A Skrull Just Before Secret Invasion

Since there is no firm indication that Rhodey is a Skrull in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier beyond speculation, that leaves only the year preceding Secret Invasion for him to be swapped out. With Rhodey off-screen for this period, it could be a seamless transition from Rhodey to Skrull, and it would also make his transition back into real life after he is rescued much easier.

Every other theory relies on Rhodey missing critical plot points in both his story and the wider MCU. From a writer's perspective, this timeframe would be the easiest for him to be reassimilated after Secret Invasion's ending without him having to relive a lot of the past trauma. However, this doesn't seem to fit with the mention of Rhodey being captured for "a long time" in episode 6. If he has been a hostage for a year may not really be long enough to fit that description.

Every one of these theories has its strengths and weaknesses, but viewers will seemingly have to wait to find out the truth. Every moment between Captain America: Civil War and Secret Invasion could potentially reveal secrets and information on when this Avenger was swapped out. Hopefully, these questions will be answered in Armor Wars, but until then, viewers can only rewatch and debate what truly happened to War Machine.

Watch every episode of Secret Invasion on demand on Disney+