Coulson still lives! Even though it’s been a little over five years since the series finale of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., fans packed NYCC’s Main Stage at the Javits Center to celebrate the show with a “small but active fan base.” Moderated by Ashley V. Robinson, the reunion panel featured Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, and Clark Gregg, who shared their experiences working on the series.
Clark Gregg portrayed Agent Phil Coulson, the endearing spy leader within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, on the show. His character received a groundswell of support for resurrection after dying in Marvel Studios’ The Avengers (2012), which resulted in the eventual release of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-2020). During the panel, Gregg reminisced about how it had been 12 or 13 years since they first announced the show on the very same stage.
“[It was] only because a lot of people, many of whom are probably in this room, went wild on what was formally known as Twitter,” Gregg said. “So, thank you. That’s why we had a show…it’s really nice to be back together and nice to see you guys.”
Ming-Na Wen played Agent Melinda May, whose codename, to both allies and enemies, was “The Cavalry” due to her lethal expertise. Wen later remarked that due to the state of social media, at the time of them filming the show, it was hard to get a sense of the community and fandom they were forging.
“Our show was before social media blew up…where you were able to get some idea about people’s reaction to the show,” she said. “It isn’t what it is now [where] you really get to have publicity and things.”
Chloe Bennet played Agent Daisy Johnson in the series, a rogue hacker turned eventual super-powered spy. During the panel she reflected on the hard work of the cast and crew of the series and how it set the standard for her work as an actress.
“We were such a high-functioning production. Every department had it locked in, and that is a real privilege,” Bennett said. “You realize after we [were] such a well oiled machine[.] [That] we [could] have three units going at 110 and just such an incredible crew[.] [We] were lucky to shoot in LA. You definitely feel the discrepancy now in different productions.”
The reunion also showcased the love, care, and chemistry between Gregg, Wen, and Bennet. It was a clear showcase as to why Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. had such a cult-classic following since its ending with the series’ strong character moments.
“The reason I think that you guys are here, that the show works as well as it did, is that everybody up here [today], [the whole cast,] all the amazing guests who came in… Everybody took it so seriously… [It’s a] commitment game,” Gregg said. “The crew, the DP, our VFX – I think the way that show evolved over time really holds up. It’s really because of the work ethic [of everyone.]”
Stay tuned to The Beat for more coverage from NYCC ’25.
English (US) · 