After recently announcing a number of new cast additions such as Kyle MacLachlan, Brian Patrick Wade, and Adrianne Palicki, as well as debuting the first look at Lucy Lawless as Agent Isabelle Hartley, Marvel and ABC have finally released some brand new promotional material for ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..’

When we last left Agent Phil Coulson, he was promoted to Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and tasked with rebuilding the organization from the ground up following its destruction in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier.’ However, none of that is mentioned in the first teaser for the first show set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which clocks in at fifteen seconds and reminds us of the wild ride we went one during Season One:

In sharp contrast to that video, we have a ton of new things to be excited over in the show’s latest promo, which features quick snippets of Coulson, May, Fitz, Simmons, Ward, and a very badass looking Skye:

Finally, thanks to a recent press release, we learn an insane amount about what’s coming next season in the form of a lengthy synopsis for the upcoming season, including the team’s new primary function, the part each agent plays in the proceedings, and the brand new addition played by Nick Blood:

Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ returns for a dynamic, action-packed second season, with newly appointed Director Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) – now the keeper of the secrets — charged with rebuilding and restoring government and public trust in S.H.I.E.L.D. in the wake of the events of Marvel’s ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, where it was revealed evil Hydra agents had infiltrated the organization. Ever since the existence of super heroes and aliens became public knowledge after the Battle of New York, the world has been trying to come to grips with this new reality. Agent Phil Coulson, who had died at the hands of Loki during the battle, was resuscitated and brought back into action, assembling a small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division). S.H.I.E.L.D.’s mission: to protect those who cannot protect themselves from threats they cannot conceive.

But the biggest threat was growing from within, as S.H.I.E.L.D.’s old enemy, Hydra – a dangerous extremist group Captain America fought against in World War II – had secretly infiltrated and infected the organization at the highest levels. Once revealed to the public, S.H.I.E.L.D., including Coulson and his team, was discredited and made to look like the enemy. The world now views S.H.I.E.L.D. as untrustworthy, and it’s Coulson’s job to change that opinion.

After helping to thwart Hydra, Coulson was appointed as Director and tasked with rebuilding the agency. This won’t be an easy job to accomplish with the majority of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents either killed, secretly working for Hydra or free agents. Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen), expert pilot, martial artist and longtime friend, will continue to look after Coulson in the wake of the mysterious etchings he’s been carving into walls. What do these etchings mean, and can Coulson be trusted? Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), highly trained in combat and espionage, was found to be a Hydra mole and a traitor to S.H.I.E.L.D. and locked up away from the world and his former teammates. But this isn’t the last we’ve seen of him… After being left to die in the middle of the ocean by Ward, Agent Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker), brilliant engineer, and Agent Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge), genius bio-chemist, found a way to escape their watery grave. But all did not go well for Fitz, who was left in a coma and may never regain his full cognitive functions; a devastating blow to Simmons. And computer hacker Skye (Chloe Bennet), now a full-fledged S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, discovered her origins as a 0-8-4 — an object of unknown origin – and that her parents were considered “monsters.” Could Skye have darkness lying dormant inside of her? Also joining Coulson’s core team is Lance Hunter (Nick Blood), a dashing mercenary sharp shooter with a quick wit. Since he didn’t rise up through the ranks, does he have an ulterior motive for helping out the team?

Who can Coulson trust?

Now that we’re all caught up on the latest updates for ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’, what are you most looking forward to seeing in this new season? Based on this new information, do you have any early predictions for the next chapter of Agent Coulson’s story? Share all your thoughts and theories in the comment section.

‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ starring Brett Dalton, Ming-Na Wen, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, Chloe Bennet, and Clark Gregg returns on Tuesday, September 23rd at 9:00pm on ABC.

Source: Comic Book Movie, Collider