‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ – Elizabeth Henstridge and Jeff Bell Talk Season 6 and the Hunt for Fitz

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns for its sixth season on May 10, 2019, with a seventh already on the way. Fans have waited a year to find out if Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) will reunite. And in the year that’s passed, Thanos snapped half the universe out of existence!

Elizabeth Henstridge was joined by executive producer Jeffrey Bell for Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. roundtables at WonderCon this weekend. Henstridge spoke to the reunion everybody’s waiting for while Bell had some news to offer on the show’s Stan Lee tribute and handling a post-Thanos MCU.

Are you going to have any kind of homage to Stan Lee in this season?

Jeff Bell: “You know, we had the ‘In Memory Of’ at the end of our first episode. There is an ‘In Memory Of’ him. Anything beyond that we would be just going down, and we did acknowledge it. And you got to do a scene with him.”

Elizabeth Henstridge: “Yeah, unbelievable. The whole show is an homage to him. It wouldn’t be in existence without him. So, it’s just extremely heartbreaking to have lost him but he’s given us so much.”

Jeff Bell: “We should all have such a great life.”

Elizabeth Henstridge: “Oh my gosh, he was so just beyond brilliant to work with. Just quick and funny and kind. […] He was the best.”

Jemma’s harder than she used to be.

Elizabeth Henstridge: “Isn’t it fun?”

Jeff Bell: “Now you’re seeing the real Elizabeth Henstridge, what we have to put up with every day.”


What was it like trying to get into that mindset?

Elizabeth Henstridge: “Super darker! It was fun. I’m determined. She’s still human but she just has to find him so the stakes for her couldn’t be higher. And she can’t fit anything else in her head. She can’t fit in too many doubts or too many other people’s feelings just yet, which is kind of how I feel as Elizabeth. Let’s get Iain back!”

Jeff Bell: “We’re still questioning whether FitzSimmons should have a daughter who has a son named Deke.”

Elizabeth Henstridge: (Laughing) “We’re on the fence.”

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Elizabeth Henstridge
Elizabeth Henstridge as Jemma Simmons in ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ (ABC/Matthias Clamer)

Clark Gregg directed season six’s first episode. What was it like working with him as a director?

Elizabeth Henstridge: “It was awful! No, he’s brilliant. He’s directed before – he’s directed us in season five.”

Jeff Bell: “And he’s done features.”

Elizabeth Henstridge: “Oh yeah, and he’s so wonderful at it. And he’s always been such a leader for us as a cast and someone we can always go to for advice and help with a scene or character moments. So, it was such a natural role for him to be in anyway. He’s so brilliant at it. He knows all the characters so well. It was lovely. I would love him to direct all the episodes.”

Is there anything that we can look for in Avengers: Endgame that affects this coming season?

Jeff Bell: “I mean, we’re on after it so you’ll get to see that actually Fitz evaporated into smoke and Deke obviously disappeared, and now they’re back. But other than that, no.” (Bell’s obviously joking as Marvel’s keeping a tight lid on any possible spoilers.)

Will Jemma get back to more science and lab time this season?

Elizabeth Henstridge: “Honestly, I can’t remember. Does she? On the move…”

Jeff Bell: “In the back half there’s some pretty cool science stuff that they have to figure out. So, yes.”

Elizabeth Henstridge: “She’ll always have that skill set and she’ll always be able to bring that to the table to help solve issues.”

Jeff Bell: “Right now it’s out in space but there are science-y things they need to figure out. I think she does.”

Obviously, Fitz and Simmons have to reunite. Can you give us a word or a phrase that might describe their reunion?

Elizabeth Henstridge: “Trip…”

Jeff Bell: “Did you say trip?”

Elizabeth Henstridge: “I was going to say trippy. Can I say that?”

Jeff Bell: “Sure. You can say whatever because it’s out of context.”

Elizabeth Henstridge: “Yeah, I’d say trippy. It’s very trippy.”