Clark Gregg talks THE AVENGERS, IRON MAN 3 and more!

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Marvel has done a fabulous job of casting their superhero films, especially Agent Coulson. Clark Gregg has been in them since Iron Man and audiences are now used to seeing him add his brand of humor to the films. Gregg recently spoke to Crave Online and talked about The Avengers, Iron Man 3 and his character's development.

Here is an excerpt from the interview which may contain SPOILERS:

CraveOnline: When you took the part [of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Coulson], did anyone know he was going to be an important character in the franchise?

Clark Gregg: Oh no, he wasn’t going to be. […] He literally [was], you know, a guy who kind of comes in and brings the paperwork and kind of vanishes. That’s really all he did. He showed up and he gave somebody a briefcase or something like that. It was really nothing. But, you know, [it was] an amazing cast and I love [Jon] Favreau, and they were like, “Would you do this?” And I was like, “Oh, they’re just going to cut me out, but what the hell? I’ve got to show up and at least do this scene with Robert Downey because I love him so much.” And it’s kind of representative of how smart Marvel’s been, in that there was something that happened, and worked. There was a kind of banter between Coulson and Stark that writers kind of came up with, and Robert and I kind of came up with, and they responded to it quickly. And suddenly it was a part of the script, and they were like, “Oh, are you free for the next two months? We started adding more stuff to this. It serves a real purpose, beyond just being some of the comic relief in the movie. It serving a real purpose in terms of setting up S.H.I.E.L.D., which we have big plans for.” And I went, “Yeah! I’ll getfree! Whatever I’m doing can be cancelled, okay?”

And then they called and said, “Listen, Coulson’s back in Iron Man 2,” and I was like, “Shut… the front door! I’m doing another one of these?!” And then when I was doing those scenes [in Iron Man 2], and I kept saying I was going to New Mexico in the draft they gave me when I got there, I said, “What’s in New Mexico?” And they said, “Oh, you are! You’re going to be in Thor!” And I was like, “Oh my God! Really?! When? When?!” And then when we were doing the panel for Thorat Comic Con, [and] right before we went on stage, Joss Whedon comes over and introduces himself, and says, “I wrote you a really big part in The Avengers, um… Can I introduce you as part of the cast of The Avengers, with Robert Downey, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo? Everyone’s here.” And I was like, “Yeah, I think that would be okay.” (Laughs) – So it’s just been a kind of like a weird, Make-A-Wish Foundation thing, where it seems so ludicrous every time it happens. I keep waiting for someone to show up and tell me that I have two weeks to live.

CraveOnline: It’s interesting to me how your character changed a bit in Thor. In Iron Manyou’re kind of… You can’t get Tony Stark’s respect, but in Thor you’re this sort of G-Man, throwing your weight around.

Clark Gregg: I think it’s one of the many sides of Agent Coulson. He [does] what it requires to manage the situation that is whack-job rich guy Tony Stark, who needs to be out-quipped once in a while and threatened with a tazing. It’s just different than what he has to deal with, with the hammer, which turns out to be this kind of demented Norse God. That’s a different situation that Agent Coulson has to manage. You don’t want to go report your failures to Nick Fury. It doesn’t seem like a fun day.

CraveOnline: Do we get to see another side to your character in The Avengers? Do you get to take down a Skrull armada single-handed or something?

Clark Gregg: That’s it! I’m taking down the Skrull armada single-handed!

CraveOnline: Oh, that’s awesome.

Clark Gregg: I’m just kidding. “Skrull armada single-handed…” No, they’re Kree!

No, I’m just kidding.

Yes, there’s definitely new stuff. Much different, new stuff for Agent Coulson to do in this one. You know, it’s kind of “all hands on deck” in terms of combating the threat that has shown up. And Joss… Joss is a master at taking what we know about each one of these characters, the superheroes and Agent Coulson, and building on what’s already there.

CraveOnline: Joss Whedon is also a master of killing off beloved characters. I’m actually a little worried about you.

Clark Gregg: Yeah, I’ve read this! I’ve read this. I’m flattered that people care, but I wish they would stop saying this because they’re going to put it in somebody’s mind! I’m talking to them about doing Iron Man 3 right now, and somebody’s going “Maybe Agent Coulson should die,” and I’m like, “Hey, hey, hey! This is the best job I’ve ever had! Stop talking about killing Agent Coulson off.”

CraveOnline: (Laughs) – Fair enough.

Clark Gregg: No, no, no. I talked to Joss Whedon early on. I said “Hey, why is everyone saying this?” And he said, “Yeah, I’ve done that before. Don’t worry. You’re safe.”