ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How much input did you have in this event, and what kind of directives did Marvel give you?
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS: I was writing both Avengers books [the New Avengers] and [Mighty Avengers], so I was pretty much there for everything.... I'm also part of that room [in a Marvel retreat that takes place in New York City each year] that decides those things. Me and Jeph Loeb [DC's Batman: Hush] and Ed Brubaker [Captain America] and Mark Millar [Civil War] are there. We scream and yell at each other — it's hilarious. You'd literally think that real political agendas that affect the world were being [debated]. In fact, me and Loeb were having at it just at the last retreat.
What were you fighting over?
Skrulls. But that's what you want. If the idea can survive the room, it can survive the Internet. I've got a wife and a mom and people who can be nice to me every day. You need these people to come in and tell you if it sucks.
So how does Secret Invasion end?
The Marvel universe will not be the same.
That's what everyone says about an event comic!
Well, we've proven over time that House of M, Civil War, Secret War — none of these did leave the universe the way it was. The criticism going into Civil War is that it's going to be a draw: Captain America's dead and Tony Stark is running the world. That wasn't the way it was when we started. These are big things for the characters. So on that note, we can only stand by our track record. But that's why you buy the book. The Avengers teams will be dramatically shifted. There will be a huge upset of power in the Marvel universe. Huge.
And the Skrulls?
They will be running the place. That will be the power shift.
You're actually working on some non-comic book projects now, right?
I'm writing a pilot for HBO that's non-comic book-related that I'm really excited about. It's crime-y. It's in the genre. It's con artists. It goes back to my Goldfish days. You know that movie out now, 21? The MIT kids who figure out how to play blackjack mathematically? This is a college show about Mike Aponte [who's depicted in the film]. He's now the No. 1 ranking blackjack guy in the world. I'm also writing a movie for Fox/ New Regency that Zak Penn [who scripted X-Men the Last Stand] is producing. Like a summer thriller thing that matches in tone with Secret Invasion a bit. It's an original script about the Bermuda Triangle. People haven't really dealt with this before. It's got a great history. It's about the genuine mystery behind it — all the conspiracies. And something bigger happens.
What about your comic-book properties?
Not to be bragging, but I can't help it — just last week I had lunch with David Fincher, who is my hero. He gave me the update on Torso [which Fincher is directing]. They've already done location scouting. It's heading towards production. They're negotiating right now with a big movie star. And I don't know what's going on with Jinx. I turned in a draft [to Universal a while ago], and they liked it. Small rewrite. Wasn't bad. It was one of those great experiences. There are directors hovering, and I don't even know if Charlize Theron [is still attached]. Listen, if she told me to f--- myself today, that's okay. She's stood around and sold that project for us. It was really cool of her. She cashed in her Oscar golden ticket for us.
Click to see EW.com's exclusive first look at Brian Michael Bendis' Secret Invasion
