S.H.I.E.L.D. Skipping SDCC, Will Be at NYCC

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. producers and stars confirm the Marvel show is skipping San Diego Comic-Con 2017, but will appear at New York Comic Con. The TV offshoot of Marvel Studios' Marvel Cinematic Universe wrapped up its fourth season earlier this year on ABC. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 4 was split into three distinct "pods" that included story arcs following Ghost Rider (Gabriel Luna), the new android technology called Life-Model Decoys, and the alternate artificial reality called the Framework. Season 4 was well received by critics and fans alike, so it was unsurprising when ABC renewed Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for season 5 - though the news did arrive after some speculation about the show's future.

However, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 will premiere later than usual since ABC slated the veteran Marvel series to take over the Friday timeslot of freshman drama, Inhumans - which will premiere in IMAX before heading to the small screen in late September - after its run. Earlier today, it was revealed Marvel TV was bringing Inhumans to SDCC this year along with upcoming Netflix series The Defenders. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was notably absent from the lineup of Marvel series and now the show's producers and star confirm they'll be sitting out SDCC this year.

Co-showrunner Maurissa Tancharoen took to Twitter to apologize to fans for missing SDCC this year, but revealed the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. writers are working on season 5. Producer Geoffrey Colo also confirmed on Twitter that the show will be skipping SDCC, but confirmed the cast will make it to NYCC in October. Plus, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star Clark Gregg posted a message to fans on Twitter about the show's absence from SDCC.

Truly sorry we won't be at #SDCC but we hope to see you at #NYCC.Just know we're working hard to bring you an awesome S5 of #AgentsofSHIELD.— Maurissa Tancharoen (@MoTancharoen) June 30, 2017

So bummed @Marvel #AgentsofSHIELD can't make SDCC, but the cast will be attending @NY_Comic_Con in October. That's a first for us! pic.twitter.com/qyptGjhKYl— Geoffrey Colo (@GeoffreyColo) June 30, 2017

Really disappointed we won’t get to hang with the world’s greatest fans at #SDCC17 #AgentsofSHIELD The truth is Henry and Iain... (1/2 )— Clark Gregg (@clarkgregg) June 30, 2017

…have become so sexy that SDPD and @marvel security could no longer guarantee their safety. Last year even a team of actual Inhumans…(2/4)— Clark Gregg (@clarkgregg) June 30, 2017

…failed to prevent one (lucky) fan from nibbling off part of Iain’s ear lobe. In all seriousness, we’re really sorry to anyone who’s… (3/4)— Clark Gregg (@clarkgregg) June 30, 2017

disappointed. We consider our loyal, badass fandom wholly responsible for S.5 and though the timing this year puts us at #NYCC17 (4 of IDK)— Clark Gregg (@clarkgregg) June 30, 2017

We WILL find a way to provide a special thanks to the bamfy #AgentsofSHIELD #DemAgents fam that got us here. Love... (5/eleventy)— Clark Gregg (@clarkgregg) June 30, 2017

Of course, since Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is premiering much later than usual, the series likely won't have much to show fans by the time SDCC kicks off in less than three weeks. There haven't been reports that the ABC Marvel series has started filming yet, so there's no footage, let alone a trailer, that could screen. Plus, although the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. writers started work on season 5 a month ago, they likely don't want to offer any major revelations just yet - like they did in announcing Ghost Rider during SDCC last year.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s absence from SDCC this year will no doubt be disappointing to fans, but it seems Tancharoen, Colo, and Gregg are just as disappointed to be missing the massive entertainment event this summer. Viewers can at least take comfort in the fact that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will likely have a bigger presence at NYCC this year - which is a smaller, but still substantial event. What exactly Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings to NYCC in terms of footage and who from the cast will attend remains to be seen. Until then, Marvel TV will still have a presence at SDCC this summer with Inhumans and The Defenders.