Joss Whedon is currently promoting the hell out of Much Ado About Nothing.  Naturally, this means the loquacious writer-director is fielding more questions about the future of the onscreen Marvel universe than he is about Shakespeare.

Whedon's latest comments concern this Marvel's foray into live-action television, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., specifically the return of Agent Coulson, the identity of a superpowered character, and the extent of the show's connection to the blockbuster movies of Marvel Studios.

Welcome to Level 7.

In early November, there will be a week where you can see Thor: The Dark World in theaters on Friday, then catch the first Marvel Studios first live-action television series, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the following Tuesday night on ABC.  Now, thanks to an extended trailer for the series clocking in at just under three minutes, you can get a much better idea of just what you'll be watching on Tuesdays starting this fall.

Pop quiz, hotshot.  What's better than seven seconds of first look footage from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the upcoming ABC series that will take the phenomenally successful Marvel Studios universe to network televsion?

The answer is, of course, thirty-seconds of footage from Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

And that's exactly what we have for you today, by way of a TV spot.

There was never any real doubt that ABC wouldn't take Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. from pilot to series.  It is, after all, directly related to the third-biggest movie of all time and a series of cross-pollinating franchises that have become a legitimate pop culture phenomenon the world over.

So though it was never in doubt, it's still nice to hear that ABC is indeed planning to have Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as a part of its schedule this Fall.  Not only that, but the network is airing a sneak peak of material from the pilot this Sunday during the season finale of Once Upon a Time.

Not only that, but right now we have the first official look at the series' slick logo, as well as a shiny lineup of the principal cast in character.

Agent Coulson is/was/shall forever remain the quietly heroic heart and soul of S.H.I.E.L.D., and even, to a certain extent, Marvel's shared cinematic universe.

So it's with no small amount of happiness that fans of Clark Gregg and his signature character anticipate the live-action Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television series alongside a roster of new espionage agents.  The question of just how Coulson could return after (spoiler) getting straight-up shanked through the chest by a mischievous deity, has been on everyone's mind since Gregg's involvement was announced.

Speculation has included notions both wild and mundane, from the idea that Phil returns as Vision to the concept of a digital consciousness.  But according to a new rumor, Agent Coulson's resurrection might just be a whole lot simpler.

Joss Whedon is a man uniquely blessed with the gift of gab.  He's talkative.  Loquacious even. 

Today, the writer and director of the biggest movie in history not helmed by James Cameron is flapping his gums about Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot, which he describes as "a very hopeful show."

The SHIELD ABC television series just added a sixth regular castmember, rounding out the principle ensemble with Chloe Bennet, a familiar face from fellow ABC show Nashville.