The Reddit MarvelStudios AMA (Ask Me Anything) with Clark Gregg, May 16, 2017 (click here to read all the questions)
A: (out of sequence, so no question): Well, this week I’m really missing Bill Paxton and Powers Boothe because we lost them and they were both such excellent guys.
A: Missed a few questions there. I’ll try to answer some. I love the MCU and love watching the movies and I miss my friends in those casts. That said, I am really proud of where we’ve gone with Agents of SHIELD and I love this bunch of actors and writers (and crew) as much as any I’ve ever worked with.
Q What upcoming MCU property are you looking forward to the most? Tahiti is a magical place!
A: Anything with Adam Warlock and that may have just been teased in GOTG2
Q Do you have any stories and/or favourite memories of working with the late Bill Paxton? Thanks!
A: So many. Just the big grin he’d show up with every day and say, “Bud-dy…” Just a great guy and a wonderful actor/filmmaker with more stories than anyone I’ve ever met.
Q: What is your favourite MCU movie?
A: Pretty damn psyched for Captain Marvel especially with the amazing Brie Larson
Q: Hi! Thank you so much for being SO awesome. In Avengers, when Coulson has been stabbed by Loki and gets to shoot him with the massive gun, he says “oh, that’s what that does”. What do you wish that gun had done?
A: Gone off on its own a minute earlier.
Q: Hi! Thanks for doing this. What’s your favorite hand? And if you could have any new hand for your character, what could it do? Thank you!
A: The SHIELD attachment does not suck
Q: Hi Clark! Thanks for doing this AMA and everything you’ve done for the MCU. Love your portrayal of A.C. (Daisy needs to bring that back imo). Have you had any input or influence on the development of Coulson?
A: I have some input but most of the great stuff on our show is straight from the writers.
Dream storyline involves saving the Defenders and the Avengers and the Guardians and the Royal Family and everyone in Legion when they get themselves in trouble with Thanos. In a musical episode by Lin Manuel Miranda. (Hamilton)
Q: u/70astralaxe wanted to ask you those question but he coudn’t so I’ll Phil in [sorry for the pun…]
Favourite Star Wars movie.
Favourite MCU movie.
Whether he had any “holy shit” moments during script-read/when filming a scene.
What he wants for the future of MCU/SHIELD.
If he is planning on doing non-MCU stuff anytime in the near future.
Favourite Ice-Cream Flavour.
Favourite Holiday Destination.
A: I’ll pick 2. Empire and that coconut something from Ben and jerry’s
Q: Clark, it was great seeing you at Denver Comic Con last year. I was the one who told you I loved Choke as well as the intro you wrote for Avengers: Endless Wartime. My question though, do you have any projects coming up that you are writing/directing? Choke was 2008, and Trust me was 2013, so I was hoping we were due for something else soon. Thanks, love your work.
A: Writing a film and a sci-fi pilot. Hope to make something next hiatus.
Q: When Joss called you up about Much Ado About Nothing, what was your reaction? Did you get any say in your role? Have you done any other Shakespeare? Thanks for doing this AMA today!
A: I was terrified when Joss called, but excited because I had just had a dream I was doing some Shakespeare and it felt ordained. And I love Joss.
Q: Have you watched GOTG Vol. 2 yet?
A: Yes. Laughed my ass off.
Q: Hello, What’s your favourite MCU movie? Also, what does RDJ smell like?
A: I’m a big fan of the Avengers and anything with Cap. Or Stark. Or Thor or the Guardians. Or Strange. Let’s face it, I’m a Marvel slut. Robert smells like warm beaches and babies laughing and a freshly washed thong.
Q: What kind of changes in perspective on your character did you work on to bring the 3 different versions of Coulson to life this season? We’ve had Agent Coulson, Robo Coulson, and Mr. Coulson. What was the most fun about doing that? Also, minor question, do you happen to know what brand / model of glasses you were rocking in the Framework? (I tweeted @amandalynnriley, but alas no response).
A: It was fun to have new takes on Phil. Amazing work by the writers. Especially geeking out teacher Phil with his soap. The glasses are called Barton Pereira (sp)
Q: What would like to do for a living if you weren’t an actor, besides dominating in lip sync battles?
A: Music something. probably not very well. But I loved being in a band. A lot.
Q: Hi Clark! Awesome for you to do this before the big season finale. How do you think your character has changed between now and the beginning of Iron Man 1? In other words, do you think your acting of Phil Coulson has changed that much in 9 years?
A: Ah, jeez, I don’t know. The character has been through a lot and gotten older, so maybe he’s less innocent and a little darker, but I probably am too. I don’t know about the acting. I try to forget that’s what it is.
Q: Do you read your fanmail? If so, what’s something cool a fan has sent you?
A: I do. I get amazing stuff and try to answer it all. I’ve been sent crocheted blankets and lola pillows and maybe some underwear.
Q: Thank you for putting your all into Coulson. He’s my favourite character in the entire Marvel universe. As for my question, how much of Clark has gone into the role? Specificially the frequent Star Wars references… is that your input or does it come purely from the writers?
A: The writers and I love Star Wars and couldn’t imagine Coulson wouldn’t as well. There’s a bunch of me and then some stiff that’s verrrrry different from me.
Q: More serious question: One of the things I love about AoS is how men and women fight each other as equals. But I’ve wondered if that took the male actors a little getting used to, going all out punching and kicking female actors. Did you find that awkward at first?
A: Definitely. Really did not like punching May or Daisy even though neither was a real punch.
Q: Hey Clark! Huge fan of your work in the MCU. My question. Did you know that when you died in the Avengers that you would be brought back for SHIELD? Thanks!
A: I did not. Neither did they. #CoulsonLives gave them the idea. So thanks.
Q: What’s the weirdest thing a fan ever asked you to do?
A: Sign a boob. But it was a big boob so I wrote my full name and then Agent Coulson.
Q: With the amount of time Coulson has been spending in the field in AOS, it has become more and more unlikely that the Avengers wouldn’t know that Phil is still alive. Do you personally think any of them know?
A: I really wish I had a good answer for that, but I don’t. Some day.
Q: Yo Clark! I’m sure you’re gonna get a bunch of marvel questions and that’s awesome. But I know you’re a basketball fan so this is my first question. Who ya got winning the finals? And secondly: Any advice for someone who’s dream is to work within marvel either on the tv side or movie side?
A: Warriors look soooo good. To work for Marvel it helps to love comics and marvel and then just try to be really good at what you want to do there.
Q: Hey Clark! Read any good books lately?
A: Yes. The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Mirukami
Q: What was it like meeting Melissa Benoist for the dubsmash battle? And have you met any of the other CW heroes?
A: I think she’s amazing. Loved her in Whiplash. And the fact that she took part in that for charity made me love her even more.
Q: I’ve been marvel fan since my early childhood, having been born without half of my right hand, my parents and superheroes have always been the biggest source of inspiration. Even in my wildest dreams, i couldnt have predicted these last 10 years, what MCU has achieved and how popular these stories would become all around the world, in that way im living my childhood dream- to see it all done well on the silver screen. What is even crazier- I wouldnt have predicted that the Son of Coul, a shield agent from phase one movies, would start his own show- his own team. Over the years, Aos became , in my humble opinion, the best that superhero tv shows can offer right now, and most recently, even a better source of fun than some of the MCU movies. Past week, i have been buzzing, that we re getting another season. Mostly, i want to say THANK YOU, to everyone who helps to make this show what it is, a source of inspiration and fun to look forward to almost every week. Thank you Mr. Gregg, for breathing life into this awesome character, and also for motivating me in my own studies, and career. I just wanted to express my gratitude, and ask, recently, the Ghost Rider, LMD and Framework arcs have cemented the greatness of this show. When you got first approached to make a shield show, did you think it would end up as such a compelling characters, stories, effects and going for 5 seasons on a small screen? Did you have any doubts? Was there ever a moment when you got a script/shot a scene, where u said to yourself : “Wow, this is amazing” ? Thank you, wish you and the whole cast/crew all the best in making another successful season. A big fan, all they way from Slovakia
A: This made my day. Thank you.
Q: What did you think of Iron Fist on Netflix? Do you think it deserves the criticism? What would you have done different if you were the showrunner?
A: I love Iron Fist. Both seasons. (then…another reply) Oops. I meant Daredevil. Didn’t sleep too well.
Q: Do you remember your time on The Shield well? Great performance. Any fun stories from the set?
A: My friend David Mamet directed and the character was so uhinged I felt wrong afterwards. Also, Billy Gierhart who has directed the most eps of AoS was the cameraman on that ep.
Q: As a big fan of What Lies Beneath and Choke, can we expect to see you work behind the camera on Agents of SHIELD any time soon?
A: I may direct an episode in season 5. if I don’t pass out from exhaustion just thinking about it.
Q: Jed Whedon recently made his directing debut in SHIELD’s episode Self Control, which is probably my favorite episode of the show now. What was it like having him direct? Do you think we can look forward to more episodes helmed by him? Great job this season by the way! Coulson’s speech a few episodes ago rocked, Captain America would be proud
A: jed was amazing and that may be my favorite too. He better direct some more or we’ll drag him down to set and make him.
Q: Hey Clark! Thanks for coming by! In about a year we’ll be coming up on Iron Man’s 10th Anniversary, which means you’ll have been playing Coulson for 10 years. How does that feel? And, if you could have Coulson appear in any Marvel-related property, what would it be?
A: Wow. Ten years. I feel very lucky. I could have been stuck that long playing a character I didn’t love in a world I didn’t care about. #Grateful
Q: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D has been renewed for a fifth season, but does not appear on ABC’s Fall schedule. Obviously, it will start later, but we’ve been getting mixed signals. Do you know if Season 5 will be a full, 22 episode season or has it been shortened?
A: Yes. Full season after the 8 eps of The Inhumans. Then we do our whole run. Could be cool that way.
Q: Can you tell us anything about today’s AoS finale?
A: Coulson will change.
Q: This is also a question from my girlfriend, who is at work and can’t ask herself: Do you think Phil and May will have a happy ending?
A: I won’t touch that one.
Q: How would coulson react to meeting the defenders?
A: He would geek out. But who knows, maybe they would too.
Q: Two questions: first, I’m currently binge watching the West Wing and I have to ask what it was like working with dialog written by Aaron Sorkin? Second, are we ever going to see your wife, Jennifer Grey, on AoS?
A: Aaron’s dialogue is like no one else’s. I did Sports Night, TWW and A Few Good Men on Broadway. So I’m lucky. He did a lot to put me on the map.
Q; Hi Clark! Thank you for doing this! I can’t wait for tonight’s finale. Can you take us through what it was like auditioning and successfully getting the role of Coulson? Did you ever imagine that the role would develop and expand like it has over time?
A: Never auditioned. Got an offer to play a part that was two scenes in IM. Then they added more and more scenes. Cut to Phil nine years later about to walk into the season 4 finale where he will finally (REDACTED)
Q: Clark, you all have been doing such a great job over the last few years. Why do you think Agents of SHIELD has resonated with so many fans around the world?
A: Because thanks to the cast, crew, the writers and Marvel the show keeps getting better all the time. That’s very rare.
Last Words From Clark: Thanks so much of the great questions. Sorry I couldn’t answer more of them. Acting in an independent film today so I have to run. Join me on the twitter for the S.4 finale tonight. Love you all.
knitpool