Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. has, in its current season, leaned hard into the idea of powered people with the Inhumans plotline. But now the show’s team has gone one better, recruiting someone with “power” right in their name. And that appalling gag is all so we can report that Powers Boothe is joining the show for a recurring role.
The gruff character favourite, who has actually popped up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a different role (he was part of the World Security Council in The Avengers) will be playing Gideon Malick, described in the announcement from Marvel itself as “a notorious man whose loyalties remain a mystery.” He's not a character from the comics (unless he's concealing his true identity), so take from that what you will. But we know Boothe gives good threat, and it will be fun to see him go up against Coulson and co.
“Gideon is incredibly menacing and in him we have a character that even the stone-cold Grant Ward would fear,” says Marvel TV boss Jeph Loeb. “Only someone of Powers’ caliber could deliver the type of ominous and powerful performance we needed.” Marvel is looking to expand further in TV, with new deals announced for shows developing from The Hellfire Club stories and around the character of Legion.
Boothe, who was last seen in** Sin City: A Dame To Kill For**, has most recently worked on TV miniseries To Appomattox, set during the American Civil War.