by In a recent interview, Clark Gregg, who played Phil Coulson in multiple Marvel films, addressed the possibility of his return to the MCU.
A pillar of the MCU’s Phase 1 was Gregg’s Phil Coulson, but Loki killed the character in the events of 2012’s The Avengers.
Despite passing away, Gregg continued to play Agent Coulson for seven seasons on ABC’s Agents of SHIELD. He also had a minor role in the next Captain Marvel movie. The MCU veteran also appeared in the Disney+ animated series What If…?
Clark Gregg Discusses a Potential MCU Comeback
Actor Clark Gregg discussed the possibility of making a return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in an interview with The Cosmic Circus at this year’s Motor City Comic Con.
When asked whether there’s a chance he’ll play Phil Coulson again in the future, Gregg quipped, “There’s always a chance.”
The lead actor of Agents of SHIELD hinted that anything is possible in the Multiverse when asked if he wants to return for more:
U.K.: “Is there a chance that we see you reprise the role of Phil Coulson?”
CG: “There’s always a chance.”
U.K.: “There’s always a chance, you’d always be down to come back for more?”
C.G.: “There’s just always a chance that- I mean, you know, it’s a multiverse.”
Gregg expressed his thoughts on playing Coulson in an interview with Entertainment Weekly from August 2021, noting he would be “thrilled” to take part in the MCU’s growth:
“I’m so grateful for just the chance to show up every once in a while to do this stuff. I can’t wait to see The Eternals; I can’t wait to see Shang-Chi. I just love the way they’re expanding [the MCU]. If there’s ever a moment when me or my alter ego can be of use and participate in any of that, I would be thrilled but right now I’m just enjoying it as a fan.”
The actor was evasive when asked if he was aware of the rumours that Clark Gregg would make a comeback as Coulsin in Secret Invasion.
EW: “Speaking of, there’s been rumors recently going around that Coulson may be getting yet another second chance at life in the MCU in a future Marvel project… have you been reading those theories on the internet?”
Gregg: “Yes, I do. I follow it like an avid fan.”
EW: “Is that something you can comment on at this time?”
Gregg: “I’ve heard those rumors, that’s the comment I can make. I’ve heard those rumors.”
Gregg was questioned by The Cosmic Circus about if the Coulson from The Avengers who fans knew was a Skrull all along.
Gregg said that Marvel “confirmed” that he was a Skrull all along, although it’s conceivable that the actor confused Skrulls with the Agents of SHIELD plot in which he served as a Life Model Decoy of Coulson in Season 7:
U.K.: “It didn’t! But was the Coulson that we knew in ‘Avengers,’ do you think that he was a Skrull all along? Do you think he could come back in ‘Secret Invasion’?”
C.G.: “Well, they’ve confirmed that he was a Skrull all along, haven’t they?”
U.K.: “No, they haven’t.”
Gregg asserted that he believes the Coulson that fans saw was a “real life person” after Cosmic Circus drew attention to the fact that Marvel has not confirmed it.
“Okay, maybe not. No, I don’t know. No, I think he was a real life person. I can barely keep track of all the things he became, or that he might show up as some other time. But I think he was, what made him, I don’t know what, stand out or connect with the fans was the fact that he was very, very human.”
Will the MCU Bring Back Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson?
Despite initially setting in the main Earth of the MCU, Agents of SHIELD’s Season 7 series finale hinted that the show is actually set in an other universe.
If it were in a another universe, Clark Gregg’s statement about the Multiverse would make sense because it would allow him to eventually return to Earth-616 (or Earth-19999).
However, it’s unclear if Gregg’s Phil Coulson will return, particularly given the character’s flawless conclusion in Agents of SHIELD.
A different Coulson might don a costume and make a comeback if the character does make a comeback.
For instance, Earth-838 in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is in ruins as a result of Wanda Maximoff’s assault on the Illuminati.
Agent Phil Coulson might still be alive in that alternate reality, and he might be one of the key figures who gathers the remaining heroes of that Earth to try to exact revenge on Earth-616.
Disney+ offers streaming of Agents of SHIELD.
