HIGHLIGHTS
J. August Richards is playing a character named Michael Peterson.
Cobie Smulders cameo as Agent Maria Hill is confirmed.
Scavenged alien tech from the Chitauri is sold on the black market.
The first review for the pilot episode of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has surfaced online and it contains a few spoilers, manly the confirmation of Cobie Smulders' cameo (you can hear her voice in the promo) and the identity of J. August Richards character in the pilot episode. Specifics are avoided however, there's no definitive information on the series' villains over than the fact that alien technology left over from the Chitauri invasion is being sold on the black market. Sadly, it seems J. August Richards is not playing any specific character from the published pages of Marvel Comics but the review does highlight his performance as the best of the pilot.
UPDATE: Apparently the character has appeared in a Marvel comic book but it is extremely obscure. The character debuted in "Slapstick #1."
"Whedon has found the perfect balance of Marvel and his trademark witty dialogue with S.H.I.E.L.D. The world is very Marvel, with callbacks and references littered throughout the episode, but the dialogue and ensemble delivers everything you love about Whedon.
In order to track down the hooded hero, Coulson (Clark Gregg) puts together a specialized mobile team – Agent Grant Ward, Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen), Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker), Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge). With the help of Skye, who is brought in by Coulson, the agents are able to learn more about Michael; how he got his powers and the threat he poses if gone unchecked.
With a strong cast and smart script, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. delivers a smart, action-packed thrill ride."
Grade – 9.0 [via Poptimal]
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Running Time: 60 min
Release Date: September 24, 2013
MPAA Rating: Not Rated Yet
Starring: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Elizabeth Henstridge, Iain De Caestecker, Brett Dalton
Directed by: Joss Whedon (pilot)
Written by: Maurissa Tancharoen (story/writer), Jed Whedon(story/writer),Jeffrey Bell (executive producer), Jeph Loeb (executive producer)
"Clark Gregg reprises his role of Agent Phil Coulson from Marvel’s feature films, as he assembles a small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Together they investigate the new, the strange, and the unknown across the globe, protecting the ordinary from the extraordinary. Coulson's team consists of Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), highly trained in combat and espionage; Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen), expert pilot and martial artist; Agent Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker), brilliant engineer; and Agent Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge), genius bio-chemist. Joining them on their journey into mystery is new recruit and computer hacker, Skye (Chloe Bennet).
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s first television series, is from executive producers Joss Whedon (Marvel's The Avengers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen, who co-wrote the pilot (Dollhouse, Dr.Horrible's Sing-Along Blog). Jeffrey Bell (Angel, Alias) and Jeph Loeb (Smallville, Lost, Heroes) also serve as executive producers. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is produced by ABC Studios and Marvel Television."