Despite a huge fan following, it looks like Clark Gregg‘s character Phil Coulson will be relegated to AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. for the foreseeable future and will not be appearing in THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON. This shouldn’t be much of a surprise given the character’s death in THE AVENGERS serving as a key motivator in uniting the disparate heroes in a singular cause, but it would have been cool to see him back on the big screen.
Director Joss Whedon was asked about Coulson’s potential return in an interview with the Associated Press and gave this explanation as to his absence:
He could. Right now it’s not something I’m pursuing because I have so much going on in ‘Avengers 2.’ Finding out that Coulson is alive would be an entire B story. And I already have too much movie. That’s better than the other thing.
I would much rather get 23 weekly doses of Clark Gregg than a few fleeting scenes in theaters every few years. Whedon also explained that there will not be much major crossover between the ABC series and the Cinematic Universe as to allow them to grow on their own. I can see that changing in the event that either ratings flag on the television side or if fans react well to a character on the show having that role jump to a movie.
In either case, Marvel’s empire is expanding and hopefully for the better. AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. premieres this Fall on ABC and THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON hits theaters on May 1, 2015.
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