PaleyFest 2014: ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Cast & Executive Producer Interviews

Brett Dalton

Photo Credit: Michael Bulbenko ​for Paley Center for Media

Brett Dalton is Coulson’s right hand man, Agent Grant Ward on “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” for Marvel and ABC. Dalton was also in high demand on the red carpet, but he stayed late to get in as many interviews as possible.
 
We only had two questions with Dalton, but they’re still worth sharing. 
 
 
CraveOnline: What was your favorite fight this season? Specifically one that Ward was involved with. 
 
Brett Dalton: There were a couple. One of the first ones I had with one of the original fight choreographers was in episode 2 when the plane had a big crack in the hull. Or the fuselage, as I guess it is called. Anyway, there was a lot of wind and whole lot of cool fight stuff that happened there. That was a good one.
 
I thought another really great one was the one on “T.R.A.C.K.S.” in episode 13 where there was a fight with the Italian [female] traveler. That was really me and that was really her, and she’s not a stunt actress. I’m not necessarily a stunt guy either. I’m just an actor who has trained really hard so I can do some of this stuff. But that was us [in that scene].
 
What’s coming up for Agent Ward in the remaining episodes of the season?
 
Brett Dalton: I think that what’s great is that the Marvel universe is all connected. So the events in Captain America 2 have a significant impact on the Marvel universe as a whole. The events that take place in Captain America 2 make the world that we inhabit completely different. So you see our episode 16 on [April 1] and you see Captain America 2 premiere on [April 4] and then you watch our show again the next week and it is a different world in which we inhabit. The same characters, but it’s a different world because of what happens in the movie. 
 
I think that’s a cool crossover thing that just hasn’t happened before. In the Marvel universe, everything is connected. That’s incredible, that all of these things talk to each other. It’s incredible to be a part of something that changes and evolves so much.   

Jeffrey Bell

Photo Credit: Kevin Parry for Paley Center for Media

If you like genre TV, chances are good that you’ve seen something that was written by Jeffrey Bell. Previously, Bell wrote for “The X-Files,” “Alias,” “Spartacus,” “Harper’s Island,” “Day Break” and he was even the showrunner on “Angel.”
 
Now Bell is back in the Whedonverse with “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” as one of the executive producers and primary writers. While Bell didn’t give us many hints, he did share his favorite moment of the current season. 
 
 
CraveOnline: What was it like joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe with “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?” 
 
Jeffrey Bell: I knew it would be a crazy ride. I knew that would be huge because of Joss [Whedon] and Marvel and Jeph Loeb and Jed [Whedon] and Maurissa [Tancharoen]. I knew it would be big and a lot of hands had different ideas of what it was going to be. But I knew it would be an exciting opportunity to make a really cool TV show, which is really what we try to do. 
 
What’s your favorite moment this season?
 
Jeffrey Bell: Simmons jumping out of a plane in episode six and Fitz going “Nooooooooooooo!” 
 
It was a great act break.
 
Jeffrey Bell: It was great. And the emotion of it… when we first saw her  — once the visual effects were in  —  flying out the back of the plane, it made my heart go “ow!” Which is lovely. 
 
Did you always know that J. August Richard’s character, Mike Peterson would be Deathlok by this point in the season?
 
Jeffrey Bell: We knew going in that he would be and we set tentpoles. We know we want this to happen by that [point] and that to happen [later]. So we knew that was the origin story, and finding the exact perfect time in episode ten when he got blown up on a bridge as the perfect chance to take him to the next step. And then, just arcing it out. 
 
What can you tell us about the last few episodes of the season?
 
Jeffrey Bell: Seven [episodes] in a row, no repeats, coming out of Cap 2 and being affected by it. It’s gaining energy and momentum. The story is becoming much more serialized. Lots of cards are being turned over and lots of reveals I think everything is becoming more heightened.
 
Is there any chance of Bill Paxton becoming a series regular?
 
Jeffrey Bell: Bill is a big movie star and we’re glad that we have him for six episodes. And whatever the future brings, I don’t know. 
 
Anything else you want to tease for the final seven episodes of the season?
 
Jeffrey Bell: I think there will be a lot of things that will surprise people. We’ve got a lot of big reveals. 

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