Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 got off to a slow start, and it was only when the show directly followed up on the aftermath of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the HYDRA revelation that it started to find its groove. Two years later, Captain America: Civil War is almost here, and last month it was said that the series would at minimum share a few themes with the movie. Now it’s been confirmed that while the connection won’t be as direct as last time, the third Captain America installment will indeed tie into the series near the season’s conclusion.
Executive producer Jed Whedon told The Hollywood Reporter that the events of the superhero conflict will play a role in how Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. progresses. He said:
It will definitely have a ripple effect. It is one world, so if there is a giant event, it will definitely have a ripple effect on our world.
Whedon wouldn’t provide any specifics on this “ripple effect,” but considering how the world governments banding together to hold superheroes accountable in Captain America: Civil War is similar to how the Inhumans have been dealt with during Season 3, the dots are easily connectable. Presumably once Captain America: Civil War rolls around, the Sokovia Accords and the other superhuman legislation will make it so the Inhumans and other superhumans on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are treated with a harsher hand. However, don’t expect the relationship between big and small screens to be a two-way street, as Captain America: Civil War directors Joe and Anthony Russo recently said there weren’t any references to the Inhumans in the movie.
While it remains to be seen how the S.H.I.E.L.D. team will handle the new status quo, some of the show’s cast did give their thoughts on where their respective characters would side on the superhuman registration debate. Luke Mitchell (Lincoln Campbell) and Henry Simmons (Mack MacKenzie) both sided with Team Captain America immediately. Elizabeth Henstridge (Jemma Simmons) and Iain de Caestecker (Leo Fitz) both believed they would feel comfortable siding with Team Iron Man, but weren’t willing to throw in completely. Nick Blood said that Lance Hunter wouldn’t get involved with “those sort of politics,” while Ming-Na Wen (Melinda May) simply sided with whoever was closer to Thor.
As for the team leader himself, Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson) admitted that while Coulson from the Phase One movies might have sided with Captain America without question (after all, he was his biggest fan), he’s not so sure that’s the case anymore, considering everything Coulson has been through while leading the organization. Plus, as we saw in last week’s episode, S.H.I.E.L.D. is back to working with the U.S. government (even if it is on the down low), so they may end up bowing to authority on this divisive issue.
New episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST on ABC.
