A Marvel Studios exec clarifies where Agents of SHIELD fits into the Marvel Cinematic Universe canon. While the main Marvel timeline is currently seeing more TV shows than ever, the franchise’s original TV era still holds the title of having the series that ran the longest, which was Agents of SHIELD. However, despite the spy drama’s success, Agents of SHIELD’s place in the MCU canon has always been a huge mystery, especially after the ABC series came to an end.
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In a new interview with Screen Rant to promote the upcoming premiere of Agatha All Along, Marvel Studios’ Head of TV, Streaming, and Animation, Brad Winderbaum, was asked about Agents of SHIELD and the chances of the Marvel TV drama actually being canon, as it does fit really well into the MCU. While having a huge love for Agents of SHIELD, Winderbaum felt that the show fit even more into The Multiverse Saga, saying the following:
I think that Agents of SHIELD is a really great show and there was a long time where some of the best reveals in that show were during the Winter Soldier era where Hydra emerges and you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ I remember that feeling, even knowing what was happening, just being a fan, [going] ‘It really is connected!’ I think that there is, in a crazy way, like you said, it does feel like it fits into The Multiverse Saga in an incredible way. I want to go down this road with you, you know I do, but we’re just gonna take a deep breath for a second. Just know that I love that cast, I love Clark Gregg and I love that show.
Why Agents Of SHIELD’s Canon Status Is So Confusing
Agents of SHIELD Fits Into The MCU, But Official Materials Leave It Out
Despite seemingly being confirmed to take place in the larger MCU multiverse, Agents of SHIELD’s canon context is still one of the most confusing situations when it comes to Marvel Studios. When Agents of SHIELD was first conceived, it was eyed as a direct spinoff of The Avengers, with Gregg’s Phil Coulson leading the charge. The idea was to expand upon the SHIELD organization that had gotten its start in the MCU films and have crossovers whenever it was suitable.
Because Agents of SHIELD’s MCU timeline makes it very clear that it fits into the Sacred Timeline, it is unclear why Marvel Studios is treating it as not fully connected.
In 2023, Kevin Feige stated in Marvel Studios: The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline that while there had been other shows and films created by different storytellers, the titles mentioned in the book were specifically for the MCU’s Sacred Timeline. Agents of SHIELD’s canon status was still a conundrum because some seasons had directly tied into some MCU films. Avengers: Age of Ultron is a massive example, as it was Coulson who secretly helped the Avengers locate Loki’s scepter, and secured a Helicarrier to rescue the people of Sokovia with Theta Protocol.
Because Agents of SHIELD’s MCU timeline makes it very clear that it fits into the Sacred Timeline, it is unclear why Marvel Studios is treating it as not fully connected. However, after 2027, it may no longer matter, since Avengers: Secret Wars is rumored to set up a soft reboot for the franchise, which could mean all these timelines will become one. Hopefully, if that ends up being the case, it will allow the Agents of SHIELD characters to come back into the fold, as there are several great characters who are due for a movie appearance.
