Hooray for the new British invasion! Yes, we are once again taking over American airwaves. In this case, known Anglophile Joss Whedon has cast two British actors in the S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show,with The Fades’ Iain De Caestecker and Elizabeth Henstridge reporting for duty.
They join a cast that already includes Ming-Na and Clark Gregg. COULSON L… We’ve done that.
S.H.I.E.L.D., which in the Marvel movie universe stands for Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division is the team that threads through the Avengers' films and usually takes care of things when the likes of Tony Stark or Steve Rogers isn’t around. Or when they’ve done some damage and it has to be cleaned/hushed up.
Gregg’s Agent Phil Coulson is the most recognisable face from the current crop, with Ming-Na playing ace pilot and weapons expert Melinda May. De Caestecker is tech guru Agent Leo Fitz, while Henstridge is aboard to play Agent Gemma Simmons, who is a science whizz. Apparently the pair spend their time together bickering. Yup, it’s a Whedon show all right.
Speaking of which, while Joss is overseeing its creation and will be involved as much as he can, his other Marvel duties (plus the 50,000 other projects bubbling in his brain) mean he’s leaning on a team that includes Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jeffrey Bell and Jeph Loeb to run the show.
As mentioned, De Caestecker is probably best known for The Fades, which should prepare him well for the weirdness that his new job will bring. He’ll also be seen in Filth and Not Another Happy Ending, with another role in the Beeb’s The Secret Of Crickley Hall. Henstridge, meanwhile, appeared in Hollyoaks and has also worked on Tooting Broadway and The Thompsons. She’s currently shooting Reach Me, which also announced Sylvester Stallone among its cast today.