Yesterday, as a part of PaleyFest, there was a panel for “Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..” Gregory Ellwood caught up with Ming-Na Wen at the event to talk about the show and its place in the larger Marvel universe.
As you undoubtedly know, Marvel expanded its entertainment reach this past fall with the introduction of “S.H.I.E.L.D.” on ABC and quite overtly the series ties into the larger Marvel cinematic universe (or MCU, if you prefer) we've seen on the big screen. When “Thor: The Dark World” came out, there was a crossover episode; recently Jaimie Alexander just reprised her role as Lady Sif for the TV series; and now with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” hitting theaters in less than two weeks, it is clear that we can expect to see more of these ties.
In fact, as Ming-Na put it, she “was freaking out” when she first saw a rough cut of “Captain America 2.” No spoilers are revealed in the interview, but it is very clear that something is going to happen in “Winter Soldier” which will be force things on “S.H.I.E.L.D.” to alter somewhat.
Whatever the changes due to the new movie are, don't expect there to necessarily be more freedom for the folks on the ABC series. Said Ming-Na, “Marvel is very much S.H.I.E.L.D….certain people higher up on the food chain know more than we do,” and consequently she doesn't “know if freedom is the right word.”
That is all sort of cryptic, but by all accounts-do read Drew McWeeny's review of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”-the new movie is not only very good, but very important for the MCU, big screen or small, as well.