Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Pilot Synopis: What’s Agent Coulson’s New Mission?

We're just two weeks away from the big premiere of Marvel's 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' on ABC, and the network is still keeping details of the Joss Whedon-produced drama close to the chest. Before the big reveal, get a new look at the details of the pilot episode, and a behind-the-scenes feature preview with the entire cast of the brand-new 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.!'

As ABC prepares to roll out its fall offerings, the first official press release for 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s pilot episode has made its way online, previewing Agent Coulson's first real mission since the Battle of New York exposed superheroes and aliens to the world at large. Focusing heavily on J. Augusts Richards' mysteriously superpowered character, so read's ABC's official description for the pilot episode of Marvel's 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.:'

HIGHLY SELECT GROUP OF AGENTS FOR THE WORLDWIDE LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCY KNOWN AS S.H.I.E.L.D., WITH THEIR FIRST ASSIGNMENT TO TRACK DOWN AN ORDINARY MAN WITH EXTRAORDINARY POWERS – POWERS WHICH COULD HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES -- ON THE PREMIERE OF ABC’S “MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.”

In the premiere episode, “Pilot,” it’s just after the battle of New York, and now that the existence of super heroes and aliens has become public knowledge, the world is trying to come to grips with this new reality. Agent Phil Coulson is back in action and has his eye on a mysterious group called The Rising Tide. In order to track this unseen, unknown enemy, he has assembled a small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division). The group’s first assignment together as a team finds them trying to track down an ordinary man who has gained extraordinary powers. Powers that could have devastating consequences.

It remains to be seen if Richards' character will return in additional episodes, but at the very least, guest credits for the pilot episode also conclusively identify J. August Richards as Mike, Shannon Lucio as Debbie, Ron Glass as Dr. Streiten and Bob Stephenson as Gary, with special guest star Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill.

While we await the September 24 premiere, we know that Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ features a cast that includes Clark Gregg as a resurrected Phil Coulson, Ming-Na as badass Melinda May, Brett Dalton as Grant Ward, Iain de Caestecker and Elizabeth Henstridge as Leo Fitz and Gemma Simmons, and Chloe Bennet as hacker Skye. ‘Ghost Whisperer’ vet David Conrad and ‘Luck‘ star Ian Hart have been added for recurring parts, though details remain light on their scientist roles.

Samuel L. Jackson previously stated that he expected to be involved with the show in some small capacity, while Tom Hiddleston and Sam Rockwell are game to reprise their Marvel Cinematic Universe roles of Loki and Justin Hammer respectively, something we’ve analyzed the likelihood of in depth.

You can also check out the latest behind-the-scenes preview of Marvel's 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' below, and give us your predictions for the new ABC series in the comments!