Actors Adrianne Palicki and Nick Blood will reportedly headline an upcoming Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff.
The planned spinoff, announced just over a week ago, will star Palicki and Blood, who play Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter. Both actors joined Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s second season separately (Palicki only recently became an official regular), though their formerly-married characters quickly became a pair.
The banter and sexual tension between the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and the mercenary has been a comedic staple of the dark-toned season — though recent events have cut down on their interactions significantly. With Bobbi’s semi-betrayal to Other-S.H.I.E.L.D., the exes have cut their ties for the time being.
Reportedly, the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff will build off of events of the series, though specific details are still scarce. With only five episodes left in the season, it seems unlikely that a real back-door pilot is in the cards; still, it is possible that Morse and Hunter’s story will conclude with their departure from S.H.I.E.L.D. — and the main series.
The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff is being written and developed by executive producer Jeff Bell, and co-executive producer Paul Zbyszewski. Presumably the story will involve espionage-related activities, though we can still hold out hope for the much-needed, banter-filled couples therapy sessions that we recently suggested.
Related: Ming-Na Wen discusses the transformation of Melinda May on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Still unknown as well is what airing format ABC envisions for the Morse-Hunter series. If it runs as a full, 20-episode endeavor, the show could help create a Marvel viewing block alongside Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Alternatively, the series could air as a shorter, mid-winter replacement, along the lines of Agent Carter‘s run in January of this year. (The fate of that brief, much-loved series remains in the balance.)
In the meantime, fans can focus on the rapidly-approaching conclusion of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 2. Only two more episodes remain before the series intersects with Avengers: Age of Ultron, and the season will come to a presumably earth-shattering finale on May 12.