Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is reportedly getting a spinoff series, developed by ABC, that will add to the television component of the growing Marvel Cinematic Universe. The news comes courtesy of EW, and according to the report, the spinoff is being cultivated by S.H.I.E.L.D executive producer Jeffery Bell and writer Paul Zbyszewski, but no details are known about the subject matter at this time.
EW goes on to say that the proposed spinoff show will also not get a backdoor pilot on this season of S.H.I.E.L.D. – in the same fashion that The Flash was introduced on Arrow – but viewers should have a good idea of what the spinoff will be after the events of the rest of the season. EW explains:
However, story elements that are still to come on SHIELD this year will be used to lay the groundwork for the potential new series. So by the end of the season – assuming the details for this project haven’t already leaked, which is rather unlikely – the spinoff concept should be clear.
J. August Richards as Deathlok on ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’
The whole story is rather suspect to me, even though EW has a phenomenal track record. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. isn’t exactly a ratings buster and hasn’t even been officially renewed for a Season 3. I find it a bit of stretch that ABC is already willing to extend (or dilute) the show even further to try to find ratings in another show. Factors like ABC’s pilot orders for the fall would determine whether show would appear in the fall, in mid-season like Agent Carter, or even appear at all.
So let the speculation begin: what could possibly be the subject matter of this spinoff? My knee jerk reaction is that it would center around Edward James Olmos’ character Robert Gonzalez and his new S.H.I.E.L.D. organization, but I would think the show would need a bigger splash to warrant a spinoff. Perhaps Deathlok as played by Whedon-alumni J. August Richards? Or maybe ABC would even take part of the main cast such as fan favorites Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) & Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) or even Skye (Chloe Bennet) and her new Inhuman friends?
The only real way to find out will be to watch the remaining episodes of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Tuesday nights at 9pm ET on ABC.
abc agents of shield edward james olmos marvel