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Credit: Marvel StudiosMarvel Studios’ Loki series has changed the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel Studios’ first glimpse into the new Marvel Multiverse will come when What If…? debuts on the Disney+ streaming on August 11. Each episode of Marvel’s first animated original series will explore one of the new branches of the timeline and as such the cast has been growing by the day. Now, Marvel fans can rejoice that Clark Gregg’s Agent Phil Coulson will be returning to the Marvel Universe, as confirmed by CBS-owned ComicBook.com.
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Clark Gregg first appeared in Iron Man (2008) and his character was the heart of Marvel’s Phase One up until his “death” in The Avengers (2012). Marvel fans got more of his backstory in Captain Marvel (2019) as the movie was set back in the 1990s. The prequel brought in younger versions of Phil Coulson and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to help Carol Danvers AKA Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) save Skrull refugees from the Kree Empire, a story that will continue in the upcoming Secret Invasion series.
But Phil Coulson also starred in Disney-owned ABC’s television series Marvel’s Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., which lasted for seven glorious seasons. Though the series is no longer considered canon and has been moved to the “Marvel Legacy Movies and Series” section of Disney+, the new Marvel Multiverse may have opened the door for an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. return.
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Fans of Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. have been begging for the show to return to MCU canon and Kevin Feige has been teasing them ever since. He’s hinted that he is open to bringing back both Clark Gregg and co-star Chloe Bennet (Daisy Johnson AKA Quake). Though many hope to bring back Melina May (Ming-Na Wen), Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker), and Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) alongside them.
There have been many rumors online that more characters from the non-canon shows are making their way to the main Marvel timeline. Netflix’s Daredevil star Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock AKA Daredevil) is expected to show up in Spider-Man: No Way Home on December 17. And Wilson Fisk AKA Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) could be coming in the upcoming Hawkeye series, streaming on Disney+ on November 24.
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Marvel’s new What If…? series is bringing back any of the voice talent of their MCU stars including Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/the Hulk), Josh Brolin (Thanos), Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter), Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man), Natalie Portman (Jane Foster), Michael Douglas (Dr. Hank Pym), Michael B. Jordan (Erik “Killmonger” Stevens), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier), and late actor Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa/Black Panther).
It is not known how much of the animated series will impact the future of the MCU but it has already been confirmed to be getting a second season that will focus on Captain Carter. And who knows perhaps some of our favorite SHIELD agents could show up in Season 2. For now, fans are happy with the return of Clark Gregg.
Marie Daisy seems to be speaking for all fans when she shared on Twitter:
can Marvel just hire Clark Gregg forever? i just want to keep watching him as Coulson
can marvel just hire clark gregg forever? i just want to keep watching him as coulson
— marie ♡ daisy (@daisycouIson) August 1, 2021
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Sylvie also chimed in saying:
Clark Gregg being in What If is confirmation that Coulson can never die and I hope this goes on forever. I want increasingly implausible reasons as to why Coulson is still alive until we’re all 80 and the president of the unites states is secretly Coulson in a fur suit
clark gregg being in what if is confirmation that coulson can never die and i hope this goes on forever. i want increasingly implausible reasons as to why coulson is still alive until we’re all 80 and the president of the unites states is secretly coulson in a fursuit
— sylvie | fruited big pot yoghurt (@SylvieLaufeydtr) August 2, 2021
More Clark Gregg in the Marvel Universe is always a good thing. The first episode of What If…? also seems to have hinted that the MCU is retconning some bits of the Agents of SHIELD cannon with the replacement of the Inhuman Hive for Shuma-Gorath.
Are you excited for What If…? and do you want Marvel Studios to bring back the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in any form that they can? Let us know in the comments
