Ming-Na To Star In Joss Whedon’s ABC Pilot ‘Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D.’
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EXCLUSIVE: Joss Whedon has recruited ER alumnaMing-Na Wen for one of the leads in hisABC drama pilotMarvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D., which he is co-writing and directing. The project, from Marvel TV andABC TV Studios, is based on a peacekeeping group found in both the comic book and feature film universes, including the blockbuster 2012 movieThe Avengers. Ming-Na will play Agent Melinda May. Soulful and slightly damaged by her combat experiences, Melinda is an ace pilot, a weapons expert and a soldier who can — and has — gone beyond the call of duty. The character was originally listed on the pilot’s casting breakdown as Agent Althea Rice, aka The Cavalry. Ming-Na is the second actor cast inS.H.I.E.L.D., joining Clark Gregg, whois reprising hisIron Man,Thor andAvengers role as Agent Phil Coulson.
Whedon is co-writing the pilot script with his brother Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. The three executive produce with Jeffrey Bell and Marvel TV’s Jeph Loeb. Ming-Na, who is reverting to her full name, Ming-Na Wen, comes toS.H.I.E.L.D. with solid sci-fi credentials after recent stints on Syfy’s Eureka andStargate Universe.She is repped by Innovative Artists, KLWGN and Jackoway Tyerman.
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29 Comments
- Bazinga
Since this is likely the last season of “How I Met Your Mother,” I suspect Cobie Smulders will wind up in “SHIELD” if it gets picked up to season.
- Schmo
This is how Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Stallone & others who are short & older hold it down… I don’t think you’ve been to battle, or you’d know logically height, sex, race, sexuality & age have nothing to do with battleground skill… It’s all training. Ths too is true of actors trained to be action stars.. A few months of training and anyone can be, or look like, a real soldier too. How about you, keyboard ninja? When’s the last ime you had a shape other than ouch potato? Enough said….
“I like Ming Na, I thought she was really good on Stargate; however, I can’t buy her as a tough ‘charge to the rescue’ solider. Fine if you want diversity and female characters but a 50 year old 5 foot 4 hundred pound woman as the bad ass military person doesn’t just stretch credibility it stretches it beyond the limits of even Reed Richards (see used a Marvel reference there).”
- Sam
Who said anything about race or sexuality? And yes I’ve actually been in a battle. I was in the Army, 4th Infantry, for 8 years and I can tell you height and age play a huge part. I never said a 5 foot 50 year old woman couldn’t serve in the military, but they aren’t combat specialists just as some 6 foot 5 muscle bound body builder wouldn’t be appropriate either.
- Diversity Observer
Good that greater diversity is noted with this casting. Hopefully it will also bring attention to Lucy Lou’s upcoming TV show.
People should be aware of her from her greatest success generally between 1993-1995+. Her work followed a similar path followed by other Joy Luck Club stars such as Lauren Tom, Rosalyn Chao and Tamilyn Tomita.
Glad that Ming NA and her husband Eric Zee (lovingly described himself as “Mr. Ming NA” at a MANAA Award event many years ago) concluded their attempt at music management with their vocal group “At Last.”
It is interesting that a television series based on comic book heroes is labeled a “drama.”
- LL2
I love all of those actresses! However, I think that Ming-Na has the highest-level of exposure post Joy Luck Club as compared to her co-stars. However, Rosalyn Chao had a recurring role on Star Trek: TNG and Star Trek: DSN.
- Boone
She was Chun Li in the terrible (guilty pleasre-ing) Street Fighter starring Jean Claude Van Damme. I like her though. She is going to killed it.
Welcome to the Whedonverse, Ming-Na ! - Uber Critic
PS–You Ming Na newbies ain’t got nothin’ on me–I have been a fan of her’s since she was on As The World Turns.
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