Two more actors have boarded Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D. tv series alongside Clark Gregg and Ming-Na. These new actors will fit right in with the Joss Whedon formula: they are young, hot, and unknown.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Elizabeth Henstridge and Iain De Caestecker will play science whiz Agent Gemma Simmons and Agent Leo Fitz, a technology guru. The duo spend all their time together — mostly bickering — and are masters of their respective fields at a remarkably young age.
Henstridge was in JJ Abrams pilot SHELTER, which was not picked up to series, and De Ceastecker has been in two BBC series, THE FADES and YOUNG JAMES HERRIOT.
It remains to be seen if these two will be the focal point of the series or just another part of the squad. S.H.I.E.L.D. is due to begin production in a couple of months and we know almost nothing of the project. While Agent Coulson will be the connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we don’t know if any of the big screen heroes will make an appearance on the series.
Joss Whedon will helm the pilot and then hand over showrunner duties to his brother Jed Whedon and Jed’s wife Maurissa Tancharoen who worked with him on DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-A-LONG BLOG.
Unlike The CW series SMALLVILLE and ARROW, S.H.I.E.L.D. will benefit from direct use of the Marvel canon. The question is whether or not the series will use major characters and villains or stick to the less known comic creations. I think it would be very interesting if the series was used to build up characters that cross with events in the movies themselves. Imagine if the events of THE AVENGERS 2, which will be released during the Summer months, have a residual effect on the series when it begins airing in the Fall. That is assuming the show makes it to 2015.