Throughout the history of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. a major debate has been how closely the show should tie in with Marvel films. Does the show function better when its integrated closely, or when it does its own thing? That question will live on with season four of the drama because the first episode sets viewers up for a Doctor Strange connection. Jed Whedon, at a fan screening of the season premiere, shared this info about the mysterious box McGuffin introduced in the premiere episode.

We are introducing a different supernatural element of the MCU, which happens to coincide with the release of Doctor Strange. So that’s what’s in the box — we can’t tell you, but something along those lines…I think you will be rewarded for [watching both Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Doctor Strange]. Some of the questions that we’re asking right at the top will be answered by the film and directly after the film. We’re starting to explore some of the same worlds.

This is hardly surprising. Marvel has connected S.H.I.E.L.D. with almost every film that has released since the ABC show’s inception. (Check out a catalog of the film/TV connections below.) This season’s connection to Doctor Strange seems to be something less than Captain America: Winter Soldier, but significantly more than Thor: The Dark World. Whedon is suggesting that the plot will actually turn and revelations will happen based on the film. (Does this mean the show is twiddling its thumbs for the month of October?)

Another possibly major revelation comes (inadvertently?) from Elizabeth Henstridge, when discussing “the box.”

Fury [Samuel L. Jackson] is scared of it, and not much scares Fury, so who knows? There are certain movies coming out that could be in the same vein.

Why is she talking about Nick Fury? He disappeared at the end of Captain America: Winter Soldier except for a 30-second appearance in Avengers: Age of Ultron. It’s exceedingly weird for an actress to bring up a character that is largely non-existent for a long time, and mention his specific opinion about a current plot point. It could be that there is a line of dialogue about Fury calling into Coulson. Or, it could be that Fury is ready to come back in either Doctor Strange or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Henstridge has spilled the beans! Fans should definitely be on the look out for Samuel L. Jackson in the coming months.

Would you like to see Nick Fury back on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? Do you think the tie-in with Doctor Strange is a good idea or a bad idea? Share your comments in the section below.

Source: EW

HISTORY OF CROSSOVER BETWEEN AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. AND FILMS

Avengers: Coulson’s death and resurrection are a central part of season one’s story.

Thor: The Dark World: The S.H.I.E.L.D. team cleans up a library in London after the climatic battle in the film.

Captain America: Winter Soldier: S.H.I.E.L.D. is infiltrated by Hydra and ceases to exist officially. This was a major shake up for the show and the hinge point of the first season.

Guardians of the Galaxy: The Kree feature as an important part of explaining Coulson’s resurrection and Skye’s backstory, at the same time the alien race features in the movie.

Avengers: Age of Ultron: Coulson is working on a secret “Theta Protocol,” as well as tracking down Loki’s scepter. “Theta Protocol” is in fact a new hellicarrier for Nick Fury. In the movie this plot line gets a minimal acknowledgment.

Captain America: Civil War: The Inhumans working with S.H.I.E.L.D. must deal with the Sokovia Accords. S.H.I.E.L.D. also comes back as a public entity.