Brett Dalton Joins 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' As Deadly Agent Grant

Briefly: Here's the latest on Marvel's first big foray into television. The cast of S.H.I.E.L.D. has just been bolstered by Brett Dalton (Army Wives, Killing LincolnBlue Bloods), who will play Agent Grant, a "rising star" of the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization. Grant is "deadly, precise, and cool under fire — but not so great with the people skills." Dalton will work alongside Ming-Na, who is top pilot and weapons expert Agent Melinda May; Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, and Elizabeth Henstridge as "science whiz Agent Gemma Simmons," and Iain De Caestecker will be Agent Leo Fitz, a technology guru.

The show jumps off from elements of S.H.I.E.L.D. as seen in Marvel's solo hero movies and The Avengers. Joss Whedon co-wrote the pilot with Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, and will direct the pilot, which should be a big asset given the success of The Avengers. [TV Line]