Clark Gregg Teases New Captain Marvel Details About Agent Coulson

As well as introducing Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers onto the scene, Captain Marvel will also see the return of many familiar characters from the MCU’s past. Nick Fury, Ronan the Accuser and, possibly most excitingly of all, Phil Coulson. The trusty S.H.I.E.L.D. agent hasn’t been seen on the big screen since his “death” in The Avengers, but the 1990s-set prequel will allow him to return without dealing with his complicated Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. storyline.

And what the movie might do as well is fill in an important blank in Coulson’s past. If you remember back in his first appearance, right at the dawn of the MCU, in 2008’s Iron Man, the character says to the Armored Avenger “this isn’t my first rodeo, Mr. Stark.” The inference is that he’s met superheroes before. But is his encounter with Captain Marvel Coulson’s first rodeo?

Clark Gregg teased as much to EW, though he stopped short of revealing if it was the very first or not, saying:

“This might be the rodeo. It’s one of them, for sure.”

It would make sense if it was, though, as all intel is pointing to Captain Marvel featuring Coulson as a “rookie S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.” But in what ways is the young Phil different from the one we know today? Well, according to Gregg, it’s mostly his fashion sense.

“He’s a relatively new S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who is obsessed with MC Hammer and dresses just like him, and it makes Director Fury so angry. The genie pants don’t really go with the Armani.”

We’re pretty sure the actor’s joking here, but we really, really hope he’s not.

Alongside Coulson, Captain Marvel will also explore Nick Fury’s first brush with the superhero world. Samuel L. Jackson has revealed that he won’t be the formidable director we’re familiar with in the film but rather, a lowly desk jockey without any field experience. And, according to Gregg, not a fan of genie pants.

Be sure to catch Captain Marvel when it flies into theaters on March 8th.