Relative newcomer Brett Dalton has joined the cast of Joss Wedon’s ABC pilot Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D., TVLine has learned exclusively.

The highly anticipated project is based on a peacekeeping group that appeared in various Marvel comics and in the summer blockbuster film The Avengers, which Whedon wrote and directed. The title’s acronym refers to a secret peacekeeping organization called Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.

Dalton, whose credits include guest stints on Army Wives and Blue Bloods as well as a supporting role in National Geographic Channel’s forthcoming telepic Killing Lincoln, will play Agent Grant, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s highly-skilled rising stars. He’s deadly, precise, and cool under fire — but not so great with the people skills.

Dalton joins previously cast Ming-Na and Clark Gregg, the latter of whom will reprise his big-screen role of agent Phil Coulson.

Whedon, who is directing the pilot, co-wrote the script with Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. If ABC orders the pilot to series, all three will serve as exec producers alongside Jeffrey Bell and Marvel Television’s Jeph Loeb.