Joss Whedon developing Marvel SHIELD series for ABC

[mr. peasant]

^ I like Carol Danvers, but I'd rather see her in the films rather than the lower-budget TV show.

However, in a TV series, she at least has the potential of being the main focus; in contrast to the movies where she'll just wind up as a background character a la Hill.

 

[The Squirrel]

^ I like Carol Danvers, but I'd rather see her in the films rather than the lower-budget TV show.

I think this tv show is the perfect opportunity to introduce her and other characters who may not get their own film any time soon.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

I can see him bringing in Enver Gjokaj from Dollhouse as well. With his ability to essentially be a human mimic, he could fit in perfectly to a spy show. Heck, a lot of the Dollhouse crew could easily be transported over into this. Fran Kanz at the techie. Reed Diamond as the hard ass officer (thought I think he's got another show). Dichen Lachman and Tahmoh Penikett could both work as officers as well.

fran kranz as eric o'grady perhaps?

 

[Chewy]

^ I like Carol Danvers, but I'd rather see her in the films rather than the lower-budget TV show.

Is it too much to ask for both?

 

[AndrewGilkison]

Do you think we might see a Punisher appearance on this show? Or Luke Cage and Ironfist?

 

[PWN3R]

fran kranz as eric o'grady perhaps?

Please, please... I want this. So perfect. They could also do some Hereos for Hire! Get some sexy Danny action going.

 

[Warhammer]

Correction: a VERSION of Viper is going to be in The Wolverine.

There's actually several Vipers. And the Madam HYDRA version is NOT on Fox's roster....she's part of Marvel Studios. That was already discussed by Feige a few months ago.

Ohhhhhhhhh, I gotcha. Sweet then.

Do you think we might see a Punisher appearance on this show? Or Luke Cage and Ironfist?

I hope so. Iron Fist, Punisher, Luke Cage, Shang-Chi, Dr. Strange, Moon Knight, etc. I'd like to see how they'd be portrayed in this new Marvel Universe or if they could be integrated as agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I just want one of them to becoming a recurring character and I'll be a happy camper.

 

[cherokeesam]

I've always felt that the Marvel Cinematic Universe takes its cues more from the Ultimate universe than the main comic universe. In which case, what about Captain Carol Danvers a.k.a. Miss Marvel as the boss character? In the Ultimate-verse, Danvers is a regular human and SHIELD operative who held the director position after Fury. Plus, it would be fitting that Miss Marvel headlined Marvel's first real foray into TV-land.


Also, instead of an ALIAS-esque story that everyone seems to be going for, here's my pitch for a SHIELD series:

It takes place shortly after the events of The Avengers. New York is still a mess, in the midst of reconstruction, and superpowered nutjobs are on the loose trying to take advantage of the chaos to carve themselves a little piece of NYC. The police are outmatched and the army can't intervene on home ground short of a full-scale war. Homeland Security's response? Deploying the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division a.k.a. SHIELD. The New York task force is led by Agent Carol Danvers. Enver Gjokaj's character also returns as a police officer who is acting as a liaison between the police and SHIELD.

The first season will focus on the recovery of New York following the Chitauri invasion. Director Danvers is tasked with restoring order with regards to superhuman threats. She feels their activities are a little too organised and conveniently timed, instead wondering if there is a connection between them and Loki's allies from the Helicarrier attack. Meaning, along with the monster-of-the-week setup, there are some investigative/espionage bits thrown in as well.

Along with all the classic superhero stuff, the show could also touch on the human aspects following a major disaster. At first, the people are happy and thankful for SHIELD's (I mean, 'Homeland Security') presence. But as weeks stretch to months and over a year with the superhuman threats still ongoing, civil unrest develops. Especially when they find out of the advanced weapons that SHIELD developed from the Tesseract that could potentially solve the problem overnight if distributed to the civilian population.

In the season one finale, Danvers is critically injured after getting hit by a car during a battle with the season's Big Bad. Her replacement, Marvin Flumm (Danver's actual replacement in the Ultimate-verse but also the name of a supervillain in the main universe) is much more shortsighted and doesn't/refuses to see the link between the New York supervillains and SHIELD's enemies. Needless to say, he doesn't mesh well with the team who are still loyal to Danvers. In the end, Flumm (or someone else, with Flumm as a red herring) is found to be a mole and this discovery forms the first link between the supervillains and HYDRA.

Also, Danvers at some point recovers from her injuries and in addition, briefly gains super powers (taking on the alter ego identity of Miss Marvel?) but this is in the end stolen by a certain unidentified individual with the ability to steal other people's powers (essentially, a lawyer-friendly version of Rogue).

Some people are still confused by SHIELD's authority....they are *not* an American agency. They are an *international* agency, answerable to the fictitious World Security Council. So their jurisdiction (and series focus) extends far beyond New York City, and the United States in general.

 

[dru-zod2501]

Please please please, I've been so down because FRINGE is entering its final season, let this fill the Fringe-sized void in my heart!!!

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

I love how they are going to be able to bring in some of the smaller characters and hopefully they can cross over to the MCU too. That would be too awesome

 

[flickchick85]

Some people are still confused by SHIELD's authority....they are *not* an American agency. They are an *international* agency, answerable to the fictitious World Security Council. So their jurisdiction (and series focus) extends far beyond New York City, and the United States in general.

This being the case, I'd kinda love for some of the main characters to be of varied nationalities. More so than I've seen in the comics (and the MCU so far). I mean, I think if Danvers were in it, she should be American, but with names like Clay Quartermain, Eric O'Grady, Tony Masters, Wendell Vaughn, etc. to draw from, they could totally go international with some of their countries of origin.

 

[flickchick85]

Actually, that would be pretty cool if it was the same character. Like after meeting Captain America and after the Chitauri battle, he was inspired to sign up for SHIELD or something. Or maybe SHIELD recruits him, after witnessing his valour on the battlefield, and as the organization is introduced to him he becomes the audience avatar.

That would be great.

 

[DrCosmic]

The way television works, I suspect it's going to be structured like a ensemble cop show, with a central protaganist with key supporting characters. If Whedon is involved, likely the central protaganist will be female.

La Contessa is a bit too exotic and privileged to be your typical Whedon-esque heroine. I'm guessing the main character will either be an original creation or maybe Abigail Brand, Danvers, Bobbi Morse or Jessica Drew. If there was no Captain America movie franchise, Sharon Carter would be the easiest character to use here, but I assume she's off limits.

Clay Quartermain is almost a lock, to be the "dude" of the show and the love interest of the main character. I wouldn't be surprised to see Jimmy Woo there too, as kind of the loyal soldier who's there to back up the main heroine without being sexually threatening (as Asian men are fairly asexual in American media; Jimmy would be the proxy "gay best friend" of the heroine ).

Though La Contessa will not be the main character, she would be an interesting supporting character to counterbalance the earnest nature of the main heroine. Kind of like the "Cordelia" of the show, if you will.

That leaves one last character that's important for this kind of show: the "chief" or authority figure. Assuming that Fury and Hill are out of the question, I guess this will be presented as some kind of regional director, who reports to Fury or Hill offscreen. I guess GW Bridge belongs to the X-men franchise, otherwise he'd be a good choice. Not sure who could play that role, as my SHIELD knowledge is pretty much exhausted at this point.

This post covered most of my thoughts very well. I wouldn't bet on La Contessa unless Sam Jackson is a regular (not outside the realm of possibility, just pretty frikkin unlikely). Still there must be a 'dark feminine,' I'd put my money on Jessica Drew, with Bobbi Morse being "the kid" so to speak. This is assuming Carol Danvers is the lead, which makes most sense and potentially gives Whedon his super powered chick for Avengers 2.

For the Chief character, which is needed for all the reasons mentioned, narratively and dramatically, I think Jasper Stillwell, Coulson's replacement from the Item 47 One Shot, is just fine to report to Fury and Hill and give the characters their missions. I don't think he should be a nobody as some have suggested, as it limits the stories about SHIELD that you can tell on a SHIELD show.

 

[flickchick85]

I feel like Titus Welliver would be a better fit for the "authority figure" role than Sitwell. But I would like to see Sitwell in the show every now and then as well.

 

[mr. peasant]

Some people are still confused by SHIELD's authority....they are *not* an American agency. They are an *international* agency, answerable to the fictitious World Security Council. So their jurisdiction (and series focus) extends far beyond New York City, and the United States in general.

It may be an international one in the comics but for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it definitely is a U.S. agency. As evidence, look at its full name - it's Strategic Homeland Interventions, Enforcement and Logistic Division - and the Marvel Wiki website where it is specifically described as one. Moreover, just because they have a global jurisdiction doesn't mean they can't have regional branches; especially in response to a metahuman-induced disaster. Remember - in the Ultimate universe, SHIELD's HQ was was in New York City; so, why shouldn't they use that in the adaptation?

Also, the reason I want it based in New York is because I feel that the aftermath of these huge, city-sized battles that happen in many an action movie where there is extensive property damage has a lot of untapped potential that the Marvel movies won't and can't harness. In addition, having it explicitly based on a post-Chitauri-invasion setting and having the plot expand on ideas/subplots touched on in the movie (e.g. SHIELD's enemies willing to work with Loki) would firmly establish to the audience that the show is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

 

[The Demon's Head]

This show is going to be so ****ing awesome.

 

[cherokeesam]

It may be an international one in the comics but for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it definitely is a U.S. agency. As evidence, look at its full name - it's Strategic Homeland Interventions, Enforcement and Logistic Division - and the Marvel Wiki website where it is specifically described as one. Moreover, just because they have a global jurisdiction doesn't mean they can't have regional branches; especially in response to a metahuman-induced disaster. Remember - in the Ultimate universe, SHIELD's HQ was was in New York City; so, why shouldn't they use that in the adaptation?

Also, the reason I want it based in New York is because I feel that the aftermath of these huge, city-sized battles that happen in many an action movie where there is extensive property damage has a lot of untapped potential that the Marvel movies won't and can't harness. In addition, having it explicitly based on a post-Chitauri-invasion setting and having the plot expand on ideas/subplots touched on in the movie (e.g. SHIELD's enemies willing to work with Loki) would firmly establish to the audience that the show is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Marvel Wiki website, like any Wiki, is public domain, and any 13-year old (like the one who wrote the SHIELD entry) can make up whatever the hell they feel like, until another 13-year old comes along and replaces it with another load of bull****.

In the comics, SHIELD answered to the UN. In the movies, SHIELD answers to the World Security Council. Same concept, fictitious organization this time. The deleted alternate bookend opening and ending of the movie, recently released to the public, proves that, where it shows Maria Hill being interviewed by her higher-ups at the WSC.

 

[Young Superman]

If done right this show could be amazing.

 

[Quasar]

If done wrong, it could suck.

 

[mr. peasant]

The Marvel Wiki website, like any Wiki, is public domain, and any 13-year old (like the one who wrote the SHIELD entry) can make up whatever the hell they feel like, until another 13-year old comes along and replaces it with another load of bull****.

In the comics, SHIELD answered to the UN. In the movies, SHIELD answers to the World Security Council. Same concept, fictitious organization this time. The deleted alternate bookend opening and ending of the movie, recently released to the public, proves that, where it shows Maria Hill being interviewed by her higher-ups at the WSC.

But are they specifically referred as such in the movies or were they just a shadowy council that was not formally identified?

More importantly, how do you explain the deliberate name difference between the MCU version and the other universes? Specifcally, the 'H' in SHIELD now refers to 'homeland' (this was mentioned as far back as Iron Man 1); meaning domestic. Ergo, it's not an international organisation.

 

[The Englishman]

Do you think we might see a Punisher appearance on this show? Or Luke Cage and Ironfist?

Can we see Captain Britain too??...

 

[DrCosmic]

^ I like Carol Danvers, but I'd rather see her in the films rather than the lower-budget TV show.

So would I, but a film isn't coming... so... it's pretty much either we see her in her own Joss Whedon show where it is assured she will be awesome and might become a pop culture icon... or we wait to see if anyone cares to make her one day maybe.

I've always felt that the Marvel Cinematic Universe takes its cues more from the Ultimate universe than the main comic universe. In which case, what about Captain Carol Danvers a.k.a. Miss Marvel as the boss character? In the Ultimate-verse, Danvers is a regular human and SHIELD operative who held the director position after Fury. Plus, it would be fitting that Miss Marvel headlined Marvel's first real foray into TV-land.

I think that was after the Ultimate Universe started to go down. At lot of their early stuff was brilliant and well received, after Supreme Power, really after Extinction, it was a bit blah at times. Ultimate Danvers was very much blah, especially as the leader of SHIELD pitching and moaning about how they treated her worse as a woman. I think Carol should headline the show, but as a field agent, in the thick of the action, instead of walking around the helicarrier giving orders.

I feel like Titus Welliver would be a better fit for the "authority figure" role than Sitwell. But I would like to see Sitwell in the show every now and then as well.

Yeah, I can see that. The actor for Sitwell's more of a Coulson-type than a GW Bridge type. Too bad they gave Welliver such a random throwaway role.

 

[Ultimatehero]

One thing I'm hoping for is it ties into the marvel universe. One interesting thing would be to start this... a YEAR before THE AVENGERS or at least a couple months. Why?

Well, we can see the events we knew about the film before it occurs! For instance, the pilot episode could deal with agent coulson being hired to keep an eye on tony stark - as we saw in the IRON MAN film. Have SHIELD's intro be the same as it was in the film series! Then everything continues from there! If possible include cameos by black widow and hawkeye to bridge those gaps as well!

Don't be afraid to incorporate the films as much as possible!

The first season would be a look inside what happened leading up the AVENGERS. Second Season would be a look at what happened leading up to IRON MAN 3, doing it's own thing AND setting some bridges to CAPTAIN AMERICA 2 and THOR 2. Next season would be leading to other films and continuing where we left of. Next season a bigger build-up to AVENGERS 2.

Basically we are seeing behind the scenes! Introduce other problems into it as well. For example, this would be the perfect vehicle for re-introducing nazis and the return of the red skull for a captain america film. Why? HYDRA is one of SHIELD's enemies!

This will entice audiences more. What was going on behind those films? How did everything lead up to the Avengers? Have Nick Fury cameos at times. Famous actors do cameos for tv shows all the time, why wouldn't sam jackson be interested? There is plenty of drama between them leading to Causon's death.


There already is a first season introduction sensibility from it PLUS the inevitable dark season 2 due to Caulson's death. Advertise it as "the story behind the story." This draws in film fans, allows newcomers to have a jump start base and alligns it with the series.

Just remembered, sadly, series isn't premiering this year. Even still, focus on the first series of films in the first season. Same reasons and allows for a gap to have audiences learn things from the films before seeing the SHIELD POV. The other way around would limit what they'd allow the audience to know due to possibly spoiling a future film.

Lots of possibilities to integrate an even larger universe. Oh and have Andrew Garfield cameos (kinda a joke, but would be awesome! Nick Fury does try to recruit Spidey...)

 

[Young Superman]

Is Nick Fury gonna be part of this show?

 

[OB12]

I'd almost gaurantee that SLJ makes a few appearances on this show.