One of the more exciting prospects of the upcoming television season is Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Comic-Con panel for the upcoming series was of much intrigue to those that headed to San Diego this year. Those that couldn't make it to the convention due to cost/ticket availability or simply couldn't make it to the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. panel (because they didn't feel like camping out all night) have no need to worry: footage of the panel has finally arrived online.
Now, let's be clear, while the panel footage does include actors like Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson) and Ming-Na Wen (Agent Melinda May), as well as pilot director Joss Whedon, the online video does NOT include footage from the show itself, even though the panel did serv as the pilot's premiere (see our thoughts on the premiere). It does offer a look at the cast, and offers evidence as to how much audiences love Agent Coulson (oh, and Whedon just a little bit, too).
Other reveals include whether Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will look at other characters in Marvel's Cinematic Universe or characters that have yet to be included in the Marvel movies (Whedon fields the question from an adorable kid dressed as, of all things, Two-Face) while Chloe Bennett talks about how it took her 6 tries to land the role of Skye. Meanwhile, Gregg gushes about being able to play Coulson and take part in the Cinematic Universe and talks about how the fans helped keep the character alive. Additionally, showrunners Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon talk about their feelings after watching the pilot in front of a live crowd and how the season is progressing now that production is ongoing.
What's also revealed is how whipped into a frenzy audiences get at Comic-Con and how much they are pandered to during panels. Some of that excitement gets lost in translation while watching the events after the fact, but, for those unfamiliar with Comic-Con, know that the frenzy audiences get is legitimate after waiting in line for hours and sometimes all night. Comic-Con panels are exclusive events (something that loses a little of its allure when the info shows up online), and it's a place where fans feel they can let out their excitement and fandom without reproach. It's easy to watch the panel and be a little cynical after the fact, but being there is a different experience and it's hard not to get caught up in everything. I'm not apologizing for myself, of course, since, during the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. panel, I was nerding out on a panel about Superman in the post-Crisis era, but I still feel protective of those in attendance, since I would have gladly been there myself had I not given up on the seemingly endless line for Ballroom 20.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is scheduled to premiere on September 24th on ABC. For more of our Comic-Con footage, head here.
