Marvel Studios should transform the Agents of SHIELD into their own agents of SWORD. The relationship between Marvel Studios and Marvel Television has long been a fraught one, with the films reluctant to embrace them. It's caused a great deal of frustration to the stars, with Chloe Bennet - aka Quake - openly venting about it back in 2016. "People who make movies for Marvel, why don't you acknowledge what happens on our show," she complained. "'Cause they don't seem to care!... The Marvel Cinematic Universe loves to pretend that everything is connected, but then they don't acknowledge our show at all."
Marvel Television is winding down now, a consequence of Kevin Feige being appointed to a new position of increased influence. With the curious exception of Helstrom, all Marvel Television projects are coming to an end. In the case of Agents of SHIELD, Marvel's flagship show, that is actually a coincidence of timing; season 7 was already intended to bring the SHIELD team's story to an end. The only question is whether or not there is a future for the various heroes when their show has finished at last.
Fortunately, there is an easy way to incorporate the agents of SHIELD. They should move straight from one organization to another, becoming the agents of SWORD.
The MCU Phase 4 Will Introduce SWORD
The post-credits scene of Spider-Man: Far From Home revealed Nick Fury is in space, working on a mysterious project with the alien shapeshifters called the Skrulls. Fans assumed he was establishing an organization called SWORD, who protect the world from extraterrestrial threats. Officially they're called the "Sentient World Observation and Response Department," and they make SHIELD look like boy scouts. SWORD's main base of operations is the Peak, an orbital satellite that serves as Earth's first line of defense.
These theories have apparently been confirmed in the most surprising way: set photos from WandaVision that hinted key Avengers allies could be associated with SWORD. Teyonah Parris' adult Monica Rambeau is certainly a SWORD agent, shown wearing a SWORD logo, and it's likely several others are as well - Kat Dennings' Darcy Lewis and Randall Park's Jimmy Woo. If that is the case, Nick Fury is looking for agents who are experienced with the affairs of gods and superheroes - and the agents of SHIELD would fit the bill.
The Agents of SHIELD Are Perfectly (Over)qualified For SWORD
The truth is that the agents of SHIELD are perfectly qualified to join SWORD - if not overqualified. The first few seasons of Agents of SHIELD saw the team focus entirely on Hydra, but it didn't take them long to expand to threats from beyond this globe. They've become quite used to adventures in space and time; last season Quake led a team through the stars and developed quite a reputation, and this season they're caught up in a spectacular Time War. If Nick Fury is looking for experienced agents, the SWORD team would immediately become his best operatives.
In the comics, SWORD has been replaced with a new body called Alpha Flight, led by Captain Marvel. There have been recurring rumors Marvel is interested in Alpha Flight, and it may well be this incarnation of the team; if so, they could well have merged SWORD and Alpha Flight ahead of Captain Marvel 2. That would fit with Marvel's decision to link Nick Fury and the Skrulls - elements from the Captain Marvel franchise - with SWORD. The highest echelons of Alpha Flight are all super-powered heroes, led by Carol Danvers herself, and Quake would be a perfect fit as a member of the MCU's version. That would give Chloe Bennet - and Agents of SHIELD's devoted fanbase - everything they have longed for all this time; an opportunity for the SHIELD team to appear on the big screen. All that's needed to make this possible is a satisfying finale, one that keeps as many of the major characters in play as possible, and that sets up a bright future for the MCU. Hopefully the season 7 finale will deliver on that promise.