The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
said farewell to two of their own much sooner than most probably expected.
after three highly decorated members of the Russian government ended up dead at their hands.
Credit: Kurt Iswarienkio/ABC
No, they havent turned to the dark side.
JEFF BELL:I suspect Jeph Loeb would say yes.
He had sent in an audition tape; he self-taped in England as he was on some other show.
He just walked right into our lives, right into an episode.
Did you know they would have this past when you first introduced them?
We were looking for that tension.
We knew that was going to happen, we just didnt know they would work so well together.
At its core, what did you want to accomplish with these characters upon bringing them into S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Well, they achieved a lot for us.
We had set up the show with almost a family metaphor.
What we didnt have was a different, more adult dynamic.
Bringing them into the larger family dynamic seemed to really round it out in a nice way.
How do you feel about that a year later?
I feel like S.H.I.E.L.D.
is a functioning entity.
The sum is larger than its parts.
Those parts are always changing, as weve brought in other characters both as protagonists and antagonists.
They were a wonderful flavor to come in and play that out on the show.
Beyond that, I think the show continues to function and is entertaining as we bring different characters in.
We brought in Inhumans this season, we brought in Luke [Mitchell] to play Lincoln.
Henry [Simmons] has really stepped up in the role of Mack.
There are other dynamics that continue to grow and evolve.
One of the things I love about this show is the characters all go through seasonal arcs.
Those entrances and exits tend to be a natural part of that growth.
We continue to bring in other interesting actors and create new dynamics.
Pairing Mack and Daisy up as partners this year is fun.
Were always looking for that.
Why did you guys decide to write them off so soon?
They had to go off and shoot a pilot.
That takes a long period of time.
We wanted to manufacture a meaningful exit.
It just happened naturally based on the schedule for shooting the pilot.
Why did you so definitively make it so they could never rejoin the team?
It is not a S.H.I.E.L.D.
It is not a S.H.I.E.L.D.
Its a show about these two characters living their life and the adventures that they have together.
Why didnt these people come in?
stuff, that would ask you why these other characters werent involved in the day-to-day episodes.
Lets get the pilot picked up.
I would be really happy if we can do that.
Thats fun when that can happen, but lets get the show picked up first.
How different isMarvels Most Wantedtonally?
Were trying to find our little corner of the sky.
This is a show, at its heart, about a relationship.
Were looking to find a separate world for them in this larger universe, if that makes sense.
Hopefully, tonally, youll look at it and it will have its own vibe.
Most Wantedhas been compared toMr.
How do you think it compares to other spy films or TV shows weve seen before?
Its a fair assessment.
Ive heard it described asMr.
and Mrs. Smithin the Marvel Universe.
Though our characters arent assassins, there is an adult relationship thats complicated by a larger world.
Theres a fun dynamic between them.
But if you take that idea, I will come after you.
Theyre going into different worlds.
Its in the press that Delroy Lindo was hired to play Dominic Fortune.
He is a master of shades of gray.
Its a world of ex-spies, mercenaries, soldiers of future and corporate espionage.
Hes a guy who is always looking to make a deal.
The fact that hes a player in this takes us into a different corner of the universe thanS.H.I.E.L.D.did.
Can they even trust him?
I would say whats fun about telling stories about spies is trust is at the heart of everything.
Everybody has secrets, everybody has a past.
Yeah, that happened.
Can you trust him?
Will he tell you that you could?
The truth lies somewhere in the middle.
Every time you get something, you have to go, Is this the truth or not?
which makes for fun storytelling.
Does that test their morals?
Bobbi is an altruistic, loyal-to-S.H.I.E.L.D., big-picture kind of gal.
Shes always believed in S.H.I.E.L.D.
and done the right thing for the greater good.
Hunter is much more loyal to the guy in the trenches next to him.
Hes expressed as much with May.
Theres good conflict there.
Look, Dominic could have plenty of assignments or opportunities for them, it doesnt mean theyre bad.
There are lots of situations where theyre not just doing mercenary bad things.
Theyre not assassins going around whacking people.
Theres a lot of gray that it’s possible for you to get into.
The question is: Is what were told the assignment is really what the assignment is?
Thats more on Dominic Fortune than anything.
Bobbi and Hunter dont always agree on things.
How much are you utilizing their bickering and different personalities in the spin-off?
They see a lot of things differently.
Paul and I are hoping to do that.
Lets get into that heartbreaking final scene at the bar.
Paul Zbyszewski wrote that episode.
When Paul first pitched it, you could see he was fighting emotion.
The writers in the room were fighting emotion just in the pitch.
That was in the first pitch.
Were all in the room going, Thats beautiful.
To me, its one of the most wonderful things hes done for this show.
How will the team deal with losing Hunter and Bobbi?
Particularly Mack, who was close with both.
I would say youll find it particularly hard for him.
We will address the fallout in the story fairly soon.
Thats good timing then since Macks brother (Gaius Charles) is appearing in the next episode.
Well have to see what happens!
Will we see any new additions to fill the void left by them?
Might they call up some of the Secret Warriors?
Stranger things have happened.
The Russian Prime Minister said theres basically a new arms race to amass Inhumans.
How will that play into the final episodes of the season?
Its something that S.H.I.E.L.D.
has to come to terms with.
For us, were always looking for what generates good story.
That seems to help us.
Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m.
