Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. made its fourth trip to Comic-Con with an all-star panel to talk about show highlights and what’s to come in Season 4. Moderator and Marvel Television VP Jeph Loeb was joined by cast members Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson), Ming-Na Wen (Melinda May), Chloe Bennet (Daisy Johnson), Henry Simmons (Mack Mackenzie), Elizabeth Henstridge (Jemma Simmons), and Iain De Caestecker (Leo Fitz), and co-creators and executive producers Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen.
Both a blooper reel and a De Caestecker and Henstridge’s audition (and the first time they ever acted together; Whedon called it “magic”) are shown. Another test clip to see how well Bennet and Brett Dalton would get along is played. It’s clear the cast truly enjoys each other on and off screen, and there is no shortage of laughter or fun. Simmons says one of the most challenging scenes to shoot was climbing down a rope because he’s afraid of heights, and everyone jokes the rope was only eight feet high.
Finally, we got a quick teaser that Ghost Rider is coming to the show this fall.
Other panel highlights are below:
Favorite Moments:
- Gregg: When Nick Fury gave him back his favorite gun, the kiss heard around the world in Season 2 (Skye/Ward), seeing Daisy become Quake, Mack getting his shotgun axe.
- Bell: A spy’s goodbye and raising a glass to Bobbi and Hunter.
- Simmons: Also a spy’s goodbye. It was a very personal for him.
- De Caestecker: Season 3 Episode 5, “4,722 Hours,” when Henstridge went to another planet and he got seven days off.
- Henstridge: Season 1, Episode 2 — the end shot where everyone is drinking beer. That was the first time she felt like this was going to be a special family.
- Whedon: Has a soft spot for all finales, but particularly the first finale with Samuel L. Jackson.
- Tancharoen: “4,722 Hours” because it was a risk from the beginning and a departure from everything they’ve done before.
- Wen: All the moments and processes of bringing the show together. It’s hard for her to pinpoint a favorite moment other than getting hired for the show.
- Bennet: The last day of shooting was very emotional — the Daisy/Hive fight, because real emotions were involved. Also, flying in a car with Clarke.
Being a Part of the Marvel Universe
Gregg says he’s really been a part of the Marvel Universe since he was 11 years old and reading the comics. He’s watched the movies come to life starting with Iron Man, and Coulson was a part of it. Then Coulson died and came back to life with a new team of writers and family. He loves that Coulson represents people who only recently discovered their powers and just believe in the mission of protecting people. He also likes being a part of one giant story told across different ways and mediums.
Strong Female Characters
Wen says it a tremendous honor to portray a strong woman and send a message of positivity to fans young and old and is happy to have a job that allows people to connect with these characters. Bennet chimes in and says the show includes real life women that are strong and empathetic because it’s simply a reflection of real life, with a lot of credit due to Tancharoen for leading the pack.
Bobbi and Hunter
Will they return? The official answer is “that’s classified…but keep watching.”
A New Love Interest for Daisy?
Following the death of Ward, should we prepare for a new love interest for Daisy? Gregg jokes that they’ve been trying to cast for the role but no one wants the job because they know it has an expiration date. Whedon says even though Daisy is rattled from what happened, people find solace in other places.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Season 4 returns Sept. 20 to ABC in its new 10 p.m. time slot.