The fanboys (and girls) were all aflutter at Sunday afternoon’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. One of the biggest questions was if any of them would show up in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but, of course, they all kept hush-hush. Still, they insisted that that the Apr. 1 and Apr. 8 episodes of the show will tie into the new movie. In attendance were series co-creators Jeb Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, as well as producers Jeph Loeb and Jeff Bell. Cast members Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson), Ming-Na Wen (Melinda May), Brett Dalton (Grant Ward), Chloe Bennet (Skye), Iain De Caestecker (Leo Fitz), and Elizabeth Henstridge (Jemma Simmons) sat on the panel moderated by actress Felicia Day.
Here’s what we learned from the event:
1. Clark Gregg gives good hugs!
A couple times during fan questions at the end of the evening, Gregg jumped off stage to hug fans who loved his character, including one woman who presented him with an art piece she made of felt.
2. Gregg makes Coulson work.
Loeb explained that bringing Coulson from the big screen to the TV started largely because of Clark Gregg. According to Loeb, Gregg embodies what makes the Marvel universe a special place, bringing humanity to the character.
3. Ming-Na Wen wants Skye to be her lovechild.
While the cast was mum on the spoiler front, Wen won the night with her joke that she wants Skye to be the lovechild of Melinda May and Thor.
4. Grant Ward: Lone Wolf no more.
Dalton admitted that his character Grant Ward was not much of a team player in the beginning of the series, but now he’s changed.
5. Chloe Bennet has no idea what Skye is.
Bennet said that she spends her downtime on set, surfing various internet sites to figure out what kind of superhero she may become (the writers are no help on this front). If she were to develop into a superhero, Bennet said that she hopes Skye’s power will be something cerebral. Maybe mind-reading?
6. Your dad can be your superhero.
When asked who his superhero was growing up, producer Jeph Loeb said it was his own father, who was a stockbroker who told elaborate stories. For Jeff Bell, it was “Matthew McConaughey in ten years.”
7. Brett Dalton’s abs would be useful on a deserted island.
This, according to Bennet. If Wen had to pick one thing to bring to a deserted island, it would be a bottle of Scotch.
8. Chloe Bennett was a Chinese pop star as a teenager
At 15, Bennet moved to China and pursued a singing career. She released her debut single “Uh Oh” in both English and Mandarin.
9. Coulson would like to play Thor in a movie…
…But he acknowledges that this coveted role has already been taken.
10. Elizabeth Henstridge would like to be in a scene with Loki.
They could be a couple, Henstridge said, settle down, go out for dinner at night … maybe a movie. Coulson’s response to Henstridge was that he was in a scene with Loki and it didn’t work out too well.
Check out photos from PaleyFest 2014 for Marvel’s Agent’s of S.H.I.E.L.D. here.
