After the recent announcement of Marvel's The Inhumans coming to theaters worldwide and ABC Network next coming fall, touting an IMAX deal allowing for international distribution, co-funding of the first two episodes, and promising 'cinema-quality visual effects', many thought this would mean a decrease of Inhumans on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D going forward, or even an outright cancellation. However, it seems the Inhumans aren't going anywhere, at as far as the show's fourth season is concerned.
Evidence has surfaced to suggest that upcoming episodes will feature one of the newer faces to the group, the Inhuman superhero Dinesh Deol, also known as 'Grid'.
Let's look at the evidence.
In the most recent synopsis for the show's November 29th return, "Deals With Our Devils", one additional bit of casting that went a bit unnoticed was the adding of Manish Dayal, credited simply as 'Man' in the show's crediting. While at first this may seem like nothing (the only real requirement for being added to a show's synopsis is to have lines), a few factors indicate that he's more than just a random bit part.
While he certainly may not be instantly recognizable, he has had larger parts in other projects before, such as his stint on Halt and Catch Fire's fourth season as the character Ryan Ray, as well as co-starring with Helen Mirren in The Hundred Foot Journey.
Dayal's placement in the synopsis also attracts attention. Usually, the credits (aside from series regulars) are credited in descending order, from most important (such as Gabriel Luna as Robbie Reyes) to the lowest, such as generic agents or soldiers. However, among the guest star listing, Dayal is credited very early on, before not only Eli Morrow, but also Robbie's brother Gabe Reyes.
Guest starring are Jason O’Mara as Director Jeffrey Mace, Gabriel Luna as Robbie Reyes, Mallory Jansen as Aida, Manish Dayal as man, Alexander Wraith as Agent Anderson, Lorenzo James Henrie as Gabe Reyes, Maximilian Osinski as Agent Davis, Patrick Cavanaugh as Burrows, Jose Zuniga as Eli Morrow, Blaise Miller as Agent Nathanson, Arnell Powell as scientist, Lance Broadway as Tac Team Leader and David An as Zhi.
It seems odd that what ostensibly looks like a bit part is played by an actor who's co-starred with Helen friggen Mirren, and also has crediting before almost every other guest star.
Now, I know what you're thinking: while this indicates he may have a bigger part than previously indicated, what makes it seem that he's playing Grid specifically? Given that the episode seems to heavily feature Ghost Rider, what makes it any more likely that he's Grid than, say, Johnny Blaze? Well there's an answer for that too.
In the Season 4 episode "Uprising", it is shown that anti-Inhuman politician Senator Ellen Nadeer (played by Parminder Nagra, who Dayal also happens to now be following on Instagram) has a brother who is an Inhuman, currently undergoing Terrigenesis. And given the fact that, well, there's pretty much only one Indian Inhuman, it's reasonable to assume that the eventual result of her brother's transformation is none other than Grid himself.
So what do you think? Do you think it's possible that Grid is making an appearance in the show? If so, are you looking forward to it, and the expanding role of the Inhumans throughout the Television side of Marvel? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!