Joss Whedon's S.H.I.E.L.D. Pilot Casts ER Star Ming-Na

Stargate Universe actress will play Agent Melinda May, an ace flier and weapons expert, in Joss Whedon's pilot for ABC

By Tierney Bricker Oct 24, 2012 11:40 PMTags
Ming-NaMichael Kovac/WireImage

Marvel's new agents are starting to assemble!

Joss Whedon's highly-anticipated S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot for ABC, which centers on Marvel's peacekeeping organization (led in the films, at least, by Samuel L. Jackson and includes Cobie Smulders as an agent) has cast its first agent: ER actress Ming-Na has joined the project.

Ming-Na is set to take on the role of the soulful and slightly damaged Agent Melinda May, according to Deadline. Agent May is an ace flier and weapons expert, and the role sounds very similiar to that of Agent Althea Rice, a role we reported was being cast earlier this month.

Ming-Na played Jing-Mei 'Deb' Chen on ER for nearly ten years and has appeared on Two and a Half Men, Eureka and Stargate Universe.

Clark Gregg, who played the beloved Agent Phil Coulson in Iron Man, Thor and The Avengers (in which he died), is set to make an appearance in the pilot. 

Whedon, who directed The Avengers, is on board to executive produce and pen the project, along with his brother Jed Whedon and his wife, Maurissa Tanchareon. If his schedule permits, Whedon is also set to direct the pilot.