Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.': Joss Whedon Reveals Surprising ‘Buffy’ Connection

Lending 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' creator Joss Whedon the reins to 'The Avengers' placed Whedon's trademark wit all over the Marvel universe, something soon to return to its TV roots in Marvel's 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' on ABC. And while Whedon's influence and past Whedonverse stars will be present for ABC's superhero-adjacent drama, what surprising connection to 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' has Joss revealed 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' to have?

"['Agents of SHIELD'] is basically a TV series of ‘The Zeppo’ [episode of Buffy], which was a very deliberate deconstruction of a Buffy episode in order to star the person who mattered the least,” Whedon tells Entertainment Weekly in a new issue. “The people who are ignored are the people I’ve been writing as my heroes from day one."

Whedon likened the superheroes moviegoers have become familiar with to the celebrities of the Marvel universe, allowing 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' to focus on the complications created for those without super-soldier serum, gamma radiation, hi-tech armor or mystical hammers. "Now obviously there’s going to be hijinks and hilarity and sex and gadgets and all the things that made people buy the comics," offers Whedon in defense. "But that’s what the show really is about to me, and that’s what Clark Gregg embodies: the Everyman.”

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’s resurrected Agent Phil Coulson, Ming-Na as veteran agent Melinda May, Brett Dalton as Agent Grant Ward, Chloe Bennet as hacker Skye, and Elizabeth Henstridge and Iain De Caestecker as science team Gemma Simmons and Leo Fitz. ‘Ghost Whisperer’ vet David Conrad and ‘Luck‘ star Ian Hart have been added for recurring parts, though details remain light on their scientist roles.

'How I Met Your Mother' star Cobie Smulders has been confirmed to reprise the role of Agent Maria Hill in the series pilot, potentially making appearances down the line, while Samuel L. Jackson previously stated that he expected to be involved with the show in some small capacity. Both 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.

Well, what say you? Will 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' carry on the 'Buffy' spirit, or shift focus to its superheroes? Tell us in the comments what you're hoping to see from the new ABC series after the video!