Both Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter will be back for further seasons on ABC.
Update: The spinoff series starring Bobbi Morse (Adrianne Palicki) and her ex-husband Lance Hunter (Nick Blood) has been shelved by the network, meaning that Palicki and Blood may return for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 3.
The renewal of Agent Carter comes as a minor surprise and a major relief for fans of the retro-era Marvel mini-series. Starring Hayley Atwell and James D’Arcy, the show was much beloved by fans and critics but struggled to make a strong impact in the live ratings.
Speaking on the hoped-for second season, Tara Butters told Hypable that she and fellow showrunner Michelle Fazekas had plenty of ideas in store for Peggy Cater.
“I still think there’s some story to be told in the time period that we’re at,” Butters said, “But maybe we have the ability to… bring her to Los Angeles, bring her to London. The nice thing about being a spy is that she can pretty much go anywhere.”
As for the emotional side of the story, “We spent the first eight episodes allowing her to put Captain America behind her, to a degree,” Butters acknowledged. Peggy “has made her professional life her only life, and I think that she needs to expand her universe.”
As it did this year, Agent Carter season 2 will serve as a bridge between the fall and spring installments of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which was also renewed for its third season.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is no ratings juggernaut either, but the show performs exceptionally well in DVR viewings — and attracts the male demographic often lacking in ABC’s other offerings. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 2 has adopted a darker tone than its critically-controversial first season, and has thrilled fans by introducing the genetically-empowered Inhumans to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
An Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff series starring Bobbi Morse (Adrianne Palicki) and her ex-husband Lance Hunter (Nick Blood) is also in development at ABC, though little has been officially confirmed.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 2 will air its shocking, two-hour season finale next Tuesday on ABC — so, thankfully, fans will not be in doubt that the inevitable cliffhangers will eventually find resolution.