Coulson's replacement has been found. And no, it's not Melinda May.
Marvel has announced that their ABC series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has cast Jason O'Mara as the new director of S.H.I.E.L.D. who took over from Phil Coulson off-camera at the end of Season 3 last May. Although the character's name was not yet revealed, O'Mara will play "a character whose Marvel roots go back to the 1940s."
O'Mara,43, is an Irish actor probably best known as the modern voice of Batman in the DC Comics animated films Son of Batman, Batman vs. Robin, Batman: Bad Blood, Justice League: War, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, Justice League vs. Teen Titans, and Justice League Dark. In addition, he played Detective Sam Tyler on the ABC version of Life on Mars, and has appeared on Terra Nova, The Good Wife, Complications, Vegas, Monarch of the Glen, Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, and CSI: Miami.
"Bringing Jason into the mix as the New Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. forces everyone, particularly Coulson, to reevaluate their role in the Agency," said Executive Producer and Marvel’s Head of Television, Jeph Loeb. "Jason has both the physical presence and acting dynamics that will connect with and challenge even the most loyal agent."
O’Mara is the second major cast addition announced for the upcoming season. At Comic-Con international: San Diego, Marvel Television announced that Gabriel Luna will join the cast as Ghost Rider, a.k.a. Robbie Reyes. Lilli Birdsell will play Lucy, "a beautiful woman with a haunting quality. She has a very violent streak in her inner self, because of things that have happened."
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns to ABC for Season 4 on September 20th at 10:00 p.m. EST.