Marvel’s cinematic universe is expanding into television with an upcoming ABC series based on S.H.I.E.L.D. TV Line appears to have gotten its hands on a cast list for audition purposes. As Coming Soon points out, Whedon’s gone on record saying he uses fake sides when bringing actors to audition. So take the following with a grain of salt for now:
SKYE | This late-20s woman sounds like a dream: fun, smart, caring and confident – with an ability to get the upper hand by using her wit and charm.
AGENT GRANT WARD | Quite the physical specimen and “cool under fire,” he sometimes botches interpersonal relations. He’s a quiet one with a bit of a temper, but he’s the kind of guy that grows on you.
AGENT ALTHEA RICE | Also known as “The Calvary,” this hard-core soldier has crazy skills when it comes to weapons and being a pilot. But her experiences have left her very quiet and a little damaged.
AGENT LEO FITZ and AGENT JEMMA SIMMONS | These two came through training together and still choose to spend most of their time in each other’s company. Their sibling-like relationship is reinforced by their shared nerd tendencies – she deals with biology and chemistry, he’s a whiz at the technical side of weaponry.
Fair enough, sounds like a TV show. It’s not lost on me that the piece I ran just before this was also Marvel related – leading me to wonder if this show is where Marvel encroaches on over-exposure territory. These roles, if they’re the real deal, are going to be the most sought-after roles in television until they’re cast. Everybody wants to be in the Marvel business and these characters could conceivably be making cameos in every Marvel movie from here to eternity. But serialized drama is seeing a downturn on network TV (if not in output then ratings); leading me to wonder if this show is the slam dunk Disney seems to think it’ll be.