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Joss Whedon Has Chosen Who Will Be In ABC’s S.H.I.E.L.D.

by Jill Pantozzi | 11:02 am, October 2nd, 2012

Superhero fans have been speculating which Marvel characters will be featuring in Joss Whedon’s new S.H.I.E.L.D. series on ABC. Will any of the characters from The Avengers have key roles (or at least play a small part? Will he populate the show will those connected with S.H.I.E.L.D. through the years? Or will he create new characters? We now know the answer.

TV Line has details from the pilot which include the main characters that will eventually be cast. They are:

Skye: This late-20s woman sounds like a dream: fun, smart, caring and confident – with an ability to get the upper hand by using her wit and charm.
Agent Grant Ward: Quite the physical specimen and “cool under fire,” he sometimes botches interpersonal relations. He’s a quiet one with a bit of a temper, but he’s the kind of guy that grows on you.
Agent Althea Rice: Also known as “The Calvary,” [sic] this hard-core soldier has crazy skills when it comes to weapons and being a pilot. But her experiences have left her very quiet and a little damaged.
Agent Leo Fitz and Agent Jemma Simmons: These two came through training together and still choose to spend most of their time in each other’s company. Their sibling-like relationship is reinforced by their shared nerd tendencies – she deals with biology and chemistry, he’s a whiz at the technical side of weaponry.

If those names don’t sound familiar to you it’s because they’ve never existed in Marvel comics or their film franchises. Yup, Whedon and Co. are going with completely new characters. It’s not surprising, and there’s nothing to say they won’t bring in people we know to mix with this cast, but I’m sure it will annoy some fans. I’m happy to see a generous representation of females (not that I was worried) and now I’m speculating who this non-Agent Skye will be. Also of note, none of these descriptions specifically specify any superpowers.

No word who will be cast in these roles but you could probably bet money on at least one Whedonverse actor getting special consideration. TV Line writes, “Whedon is tentatively set to direct the pilot; he’s also slated to write the series with his brother Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen.

(via TVLine)

Previously in S.H.I.E.L.D.

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http://www.facebook.com/princessdeleon Tatiana Torres

Zach Levi as LEO FITZ!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/ividia.kt Ividia Kt

Joss is the best!
http://twitter.com/NathanWaddell1 Nathan Waddell

I bet Skye will be a LMD. Remember that I called it!
http://twitter.com/ericadawn16 Erica Dawn

You can’t have him in this show AND currently playing Fandral in the Thor series.
Shannon Patrick

Zac Levi as anybody on my TV and I’ll be happy :)
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ian-MacQuarrie/1199286863 Ian MacQuarrie

Surely ‘The Cavalry’..?
John Wao

The question is who will be the guest stars?
http://twitter.com/gbwilliams G. Brett Williams

If he continues his trend of recycling actors, I’d put the smart money on Althea Rice being Summer Glau.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=331300042 Melissa Shumake

that would be so awesome.
http://www.facebook.com/brian.adkins.77 Brian Adkins

Yes,you could. Why would they look the same? Fandral doesn’t look like “Chuck.”
Anonymous

A show about S.H.I.E.L.D. with no one from S.H.I.E.L.D. or anyone from Marvel comics for that matter? Hoo boy, where do I sign up?
Anonymous

Althea Rice sounds suspiciously like Carol Danvers….:)
Anonymous

Any chance any of these agents will be people of color?
Anonymous

I’m happy they went with new characters at first – it gives The Whedon the freedom he needs to really create something fresh.
Cameos and clues will add on over time.
http://twitter.com/ohmyerica Erica Taylor

I’m dumb. What’s a LMD?
http://twitter.com/ohmyerica Erica Taylor

I really hope so. I’m obsessed with Joss and my biggest complaint is that people of color are underrepresented.
http://www.facebook.com/laura.truxillo Laura Truxillo

I think that last pair makes me happiest, especially if it results in male/female platonic BFFs.

New characters are probably for the best. Existing comic characters can be tossed in for flavor, but having all new people to focus on will result in less, “Well, the REAL so-and-so wouldn’t do that.”
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003037095323 Jerilyn Nighy

Life Model Decoy. Android dupe of Nick Fury in the books, to explain his resurrections.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003037095323 Jerilyn Nighy

Let’s see — no Dum Dum, as they are probably keeping him in WWII sans Infinity Formula, along with Gabe…Sharon will be in Cap II..they are probably saving Bobbi for a potential Hawkeye/BW spin-off…Jessica Drew ???…Dani Moonstar is probably tied up with the X-Men movie option…Eric O’Grady is too new a character, and they’d probably put him in Ant-Man. At the very least, give us The Contessa, and/or Taskmaster.