Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD will enter its fourth season this fall. Amazing considering the shaky ground they started off on during their first season. While the show has done a decent job of standing its ground, ABC has moved its slot to a later time (10 pm, 9 pm Central). That could be for one of two reasons. Either ABC’s confidence in its performance is shaken, or the subject matter is going to darken up enough to warrant a later time.
That latter guess might be corroborated by new info out of their panel at the San Diego Comic Con Friday afternoon. The panel debuted with a fiery new logo. This is in keeping with a photo previously released by Marvel of an Agents of SHIELD train featuring a very recognizable fiery chain wrapped around it specifically for SDCC. That, of course, meant one thing:
While no other info regarding Ghost Rider was announced during their Season 4 teaser reel, his image was unmistakable. It’s official: Ghost Rider will be on Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD Season 4, which debuts on ABC September 20.
The panel began with the usual introduction of the cast and showrunners followed by a recap reel of Season 3. Jeph Loeb, head of Marvel TV, then introduced a gag reel followed by some audition footage. Iain Decasteker (Agent Leo Fitz) and Elizabeth Henstridge’s (Agent Jemma Simmons) chemistry was apparently obvious from the beginning, according to SuperheroHype. In fact, that screen test provided the inspiration for the Fitzsimmons scene where both characters are trapped together at the bottom of the ocean in Season 1.
Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson) persistently asked if they could “do the thing.” Apparently “the thing” had to wait because after the audition reels came the Q&A session. During such, Loeb was asking by a young boy why they killed off Ward and Lincoln. Loeb remarked, “I’ve never regretted anything more than right now.” We’re with you, little dude. The absence of Ward, in particular, will be felt in this new season as he’s been with the show since Day One.
At this point, the team has gone through some shit storms including the resurgence of HYDRA and subsequent destruction of SHIELD. Luckily, that situation was temporary. Last season, former Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), the turncoat who had been operating for HYDRA the entire time, was killed off-planet by Agent Coulson. Unfortunately, he was immediately possessed by the alien entity, Hive, who then returned to earth with the usual intent for world destruction and domination. The end of Season 3 saw the vanquishing of Hive, the death of Agent Lincoln Campbell (Luke Mitchell) in a self-sacrificing move and the disconnect of Daisy aka Quake (Chloe Bennet).
Marvel has previously stated Daisy’s story will take on a darker tone in Season 4, which just began shooting yesterday. Producer Jed Whedon said, “I think she’s not in a good place, but prepare yourself.”
UPDATE: This article was corrected from a previous version mistakenly listing the panel location in Hall H. It was actually in Ballroom 20.
Images via Marvel
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