“S.H.I.E.L.D.” gets a new title and new actor Posted by Terri Schwartz on April 8th

“S.H.I.E.L.D.” now has a new name: “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” The title for the upcoming ABC series was confirmed in a press release sent out that includes the first official plot synopsis for the new Joss Whedon show.

“Joss Whedon shows us not all heroes are super with ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,'” the synopsis reads. “Fresh from his role in the summer’s box office smash, ‘Marvel’s The Avengers,’ Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) returns to the worldwide law enforcement organization S.H.I.E.L.D. He puts together a small, highly trained, team of Agents to tackle the cases that haven’t been classified yet, the new, the strange and the unknown.”

It continues, “That team consists of straight arrow Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), an expert in combat and espionage; pilot and martial artist Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen); and brilliant if socially awkward scientists Agent Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Agent Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge). They’ll be joined by civilian new recruit and computer hacker Skye (Chloe Bennet).”

“Prepare for an epic adventure that showcases the hope and wonder of the human spirit,” the synopsis concludes. “This is a world of Super Heroes, aliens and the unusual — of action, spectacle and world spanning stories. The show will speak to the human condition through the lens of our very human, non-powered S.H.I.E.L.D agents – that together we are greater than we are apart, and that we can make a difference in the world.”

Meanwhile, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” has added a new actor to its roster, and this one is a Whedon vet. First reported by ShieldTV.net and later confirmed by TVLine, it’s being reported that “Angel” alum J. August Richards has joined the ABC series in an undisclosed role.

Whedon, Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen executive produced and co-wrote the pilot for “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” along with Jeph Loeb and Jeffrey Bell. This is Marvel’s first live-action TV series. No word on when it will premiere on the air.

What do you think of the new title? Who do you think Richards should play? Tell us in the comments section below or on Facebook and Twitter.