In less than three seasons, Brett Dalton has gone from S.H.I.E.L.D. agent to sleeper Hydra agent to Hydra leader expectant. When "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." returns, Dalton will take on his most challenging portrayal yet, that of Marvel villain, Hive.
Marvel confirmed Grant Ward has returned through the alien portal as the villainous character featured in the "Secret Warriors" comic series. The character of Hive was the result of a Hydra experiment to create a creature that is the physical embodiment of the Hydra ideal, composed of multiple parasitic entities. The parasites can act as projectile weapons for attack.
"Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." showrunners Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen teased Nerdist that the Marvel TV's version of Hive "is going to have its own unique twist and be very different from what fans have seen so far. We will see similarities that pay homage to the original character, but fans will see that Hive is taking an exciting new direction in the world of 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'"
The slithering tentacle beneath Ward's skin when Gideon Malick (Powers Boothe) found him in the middle of the road at the end of the midseason finale was the first clue for eagle-eyed fans that S.H.I.E.L.D. enemy No. 1 had made a dangerous transformation on the alien planet.
The reappearance of Ward, in any shape or form, will certainly surprise S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Coulson (Clark Gregg), who believes he killed his former colleague with his mechanical hand crushing him to death. The S.H.I.E.L.D. team now faces a revived Hydra and enemy whose motivations, goals and strengths are unclear.
Cue the Secret Warriors, led by Daisy (Chloe Bennet), who will finally spring into action in the back half of season three. She and Mack (Henry Simmons) will continue to track down more Inhumans to join their small team that already includes Lincoln (Luke Mitchell) and Joey (Juan Pablo Raba).
One possible recruit may be Elena "Yo Yo" Rodriguez aka Slingshot (Natalia Cordova-Buckley), but her Inhuman status doesn't necessarily make her a surefire pick to join the Secret Warriors initiative. Blowing by Mack certainly won't help her cause.
"Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." resumes its third season on Tuesday, March 8 at 9 p.m. on ABC.
Watch the midseason promo below.
