Game of ThronesstarEmilia Clarkeis following up her role inSecret Invasionwith starring roles in two new crime shows:CriminalandPonies.Best known for her role as Daenerys Targaryenin the HBO fantasy series — which earned her four Emmy nominations — Clarke previously starred in a number of other popular franchises, portraying an alternative version of Sarah Connor inTerminator: Genisysas well as Han Solo’s first love interest, Qi’ra, inSolo: A Star Wars Story. Clarke has not since reprised either of these roles.
Prior toSecret Invasion, Clarke had not been the star of a television series sinceGame of Thronesended in 2019, which saw the death of her character at the hands of Kit Harrington’s Jon Snow. Her upcoming roles in bothCriminalandPoniesmight be what finally puts Clarke back at the forefront of a big franchise.
Emilia Clarke Has Upcoming Leading Roles In Criminal & Ponies
Clarke Will Star In Two Crime Shows
In July 2024, it was announced that Clarke had been cast in the lead role forthe television adaptation of the comic book seriesCriminal. The series will follow multiple generations of criminal families as they uncover the murders that connect their past.Emilia Clarke will playCriminal’sMallory, an armed robber caught in a Bonnie-and-Clyde relationship with Ricky Lawless (Gus Halper). She will star alongside Luke Evans (Fast & Furious 6,Beauty and the Beast), Adria Arjona (Hit Man, Blink Twice), and Charlie Hunnam (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,The Gentlemen).
Clarke will play Mallory, an armed robber caught in a Bonnie-and-Clyde relationship with Ricky Lawless (Gus Halper).
More recently, Clarke was confirmed to be leading the Peacock spy thriller seriesPonies. The series — set in Moscow, 1977 — will follow two “PONIES” (‘persons of no interest’) as they become CIA operatives and work to uncover a Cold War conspiracy following the mysterious deaths of their husbands.Clarke will portray Bea, one of the PONIES. Bea’s cohort, Twila, has not yet been cast.
Emilia Clarke’s Upcoming TV Roles Are The Perfect Follow Up To Secret Invasion
Secret Invasion Was A Disappointment For MCU Fans
Although Clarke’s upcoming roles inCriminalandPoniesare vastly different — one is based on the graphic novel by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, whilst the other is a Cold War espionage thriller — they providethe perfect opportunity to reestablish Clarke as a TV icon.Clarke was last seen on the small screen as G’iah in Marvel’sSecret Invasion. The series aired exclusively on Disney+ in 2023, and was based on the 2008 Marvel Comics arc of the same name.
Emilia Clarke’s New Comic Book TV Show Sounds Much Better Than Secret Invasion After 52% RT Disappointment
While Secret Invasion failed to make the impression Marvel was hoping for, Emilia Clarke could find redemption in her new comic book adaptation.
Secret Invasionfollowed Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) as they uncover a conspiracy bya group of shapeshifting Skrullsto conquer Earth. Clarke’s character, G’iah, was the daughter of Mendelsohn’s Talos,an incredibly powerful Super-Skrullwho later empowered herself with the Harvest. The Harvest was a collection of DNA samples from the superpowered individuals who fought in the Battle of Earth.
The show was theseventh most-watchedstreaming original television series of 2023. Many expectations were placed on the series, especially since it would be Jackson’s Nick Fury’s first outing as the main star of an MCU property. However,Secret Invasionreceived mixed reviews from critics, earning itself an approval rating of 52% on Rotten Tomatoes. One major criticism of the show is how underutilized the impressive cast was, especially Clarke — although, many fans shared on social media their vindication over Clarke’s G’iah becomingthe most powerful character in the entire MCU.
What Else Emilia Clarke Has Been In Since Game Of Thrones Ended
Clarke Hasn’t Been In Much Since Game Of Thrones
Unfortunately,the disappointing outcome ofSecret Invasionfailed to reinstate Clarke as television royalty. The series was her first lead role in a television show since the finale ofGame of Thronesin 2019. Like many otherGame of Thronesalums, Clarke was instantly shot to stardom thanks to her performance asDaenerys Targaryen, the last surviving member of House Targaryen. That said,Clarke has been mostly absent from both the public eye and the screenfollowing the conclusion ofGame of Thrones.
However, aside fromSecret Invasion,she has still appeared in a number of television and film roles, such as in the romantic comedyLast Christmasopposite Henry Golding. She provided the voice of Malicia in the 2022 animated filmThe Amazing Maurice, and she also starred in and executive produced the science-fiction romantic comedyThe Pod Generationin 2023. Hopefully,Emilia Clarke’sstarring roles inCriminalandPonieswill be able to put her back on the map in a post-Game of Thronesworld.
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