The end of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s rollercoaster third season saw many sharp changes for it characters, including a long awaited coupling for Fitz and Simmons, and Daisy running off to start her life as a vigilante separate from the team. Cast members Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Elizabeth Henstridge, Iain De Caestecker, and Henry Simmons along with creators Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon and executive producers Jeffrey Bell and Jeph Loeb were on hand to discuss more dark turns for the agents and how much more Inhuman involvement we might be getting in the season ahead.

  • A noticeable difference for this year was that the show’s cast has now shrunk significantly. Henstridge and Bennet said that this was the first day they really felt that impact of not having former cast members like Brett Dalton there with them. Bennet commented that it almost feels like a new show since so much has changed with the cast and the main storylines since the first season.

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    As far as cast members being able to return, Tancharoen and Whedon said the door is always open. Dalton did go through many character iterations over his time on the show, but as Whendon pointed out, “the foundation of the show was built on a dead man,” so anything is possible. Same goes for Adrianne Palicki and Nick Blood now that Marvel’s Most Wanted is not moving forward.
  • There were resounding good feelings about the end of Season 3, despite losing several cast members. Wen said that it felt like a clean ending to the season, allowing more of a clean slate for them to start off season. Both De Caestecker and Henstridge are excited to have Fitz and Simmons finally together, and they hope that they have a least a little time for them to preserve their happiness in Season 4.
  • Another new couple for Season 4 is the pairing of Coulson and Mack. Gregg and Simmons didn’t have too much to share yet about how their dynamic is going to play out in the new season, but Gregg predicts that there will probably be some hijinks while they continue to look for Daisy.
  • Bennet thinks Season 4 is going to see a bit of a regression for Daisy back to the ways of her Skye persona from Season 1, even including her operating out of a van again. Bennet said that Daisy is separating herself the group not only to allow herself to grieve for Lincoln, but also to protect from the destruction she sometimes brings along with her wherever she goes.

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    Now that Marvel has bumped the Inhumans movie from its current slate, there could be a bigger opening for the show to explore that roster of character. Both Bell and Loeb said it’s going to be easier to explain the origins of characters’ new powers, while Tancharoen and Whedon feel they now have more freedom to expand into that world. While they did not comment on whether they would be able to tap into any of the classic or more popular Inhuman characters, expect to see further integration of Inhumans into this new season.
  • The announcement of Gabriel Luna (True Detective) as new character Ghost Rider had everyone excited. Wen said his appearance adds to the darker material the show is beginning to explore.
  • As far how the MCU films affects the show, Gregg said that many ripples that are created in the movies can be further explored within their world. Changes within the MCU started by the movies will continue to be felt throughout Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., including the introduction of magic coming up in Strange.
  • Cast favorite moments from the season range from Henstridge’s stay on Maveth (which she loved for the immersive aspect filming in that location gave her) and Gregg’s storyline with Constance Zimmer (UnREAL).
  • No one would comment on who the show’s new villain would be for Season 4, but the introduction of the Life Model Decoy could cause some real trouble for the team. Radcliffe, played by John Hannah, is most certainly involved in a significant way with the program for the coming season, but De Caestecker revealed that Fitz could also be involved.

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