Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D. TV Series Recruits Actress Ming-Na Wen

Marvel film fans around the Web had a collective nerdgasm when it was announced that actor Clark Gregg will return to reprise his role of Agent Phil Coulson in Marvel’s upcoming S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series. Now, Deadline reports that Stargate Universe actress Ming-Na Wen will be joining him as one of the series’ leads.

In the television series, based on the super-secret peacekeeping group highlighted in The Avengers, Wen will play Agent Melinda May who the report describes as:

[…]soulful and slightly damaged by her combat experiences, Melinda is an ace pilot, a weapons expert and a soldier who can — and has — gone beyond the call of duty.

The character was originally named Althea Rice, A.K.A. The Cavalry, in the casting call for the series that leaked earlier this month. Since the report was so accurate, we can safely assume that we still have four other main characters to cast:

SKYE | This late-20s woman sounds like a dream: fun, smart, caring and confident – with an ability to get the upper hand by using her wit and charm.

AGENT GRANT WARD | Quite the physical specimen and “cool under fire,” he sometimes botches interpersonal relations. He’s a quiet one with a bit of a temper, but he’s the kind of guy that grows on you.

AGENT LEO FITZ and AGENT JEMMA SIMMONS | These two came through training together and still choose to spend most of their time in each other’s company. Their sibling-like relationship is reinforced by their shared nerd tendencies – she deals with biology and chemistry, he’s a whiz at the technical side of weaponry.

I’m a bit of science fiction nut, so I’m familiar with Ming-Na Wen‘s work on Stargate Universe and Eureka. She’s a good actress and does an excellent job of portraying tough female characters in positions of authority.

No news on an air date for the series, but Joss Whedon will direct the pilot and co-write it with his brother Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen.

What do you think of the casting news? Who do you think will be cast next? Let us know in the comments below.