Interview: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Brett Dalton Talks Grant Ward, Kyle MacLachlan & Sam Jackson 

became a must watch in terms of comic book shows after the introduction of the villainous organization HYDRA, revealed to have penetrated S.H.I.E.L.D. years ago after the events of

. In a shocking turn, a core member of Agent Coulson’s (Clark Gregg) team, Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), was revealed to be in league with HYDRA, or, more specifically, deranged HYDRA agent John Garrett (Bill Paxton).

Season two focuses on Agent Coulson’s efforts to rebuild S.H.I.E.L.D. with his remaining team members, while Grant Ward lingers in S.H.I.E.L.D. confinement. I, alongside AlternativeNation.net guest Gabe Brady, recently had the chance to speak with Brett Dalton, who elaborated on the shocking turn of events in season one and what we might expect going forward in season two.

Got some high tech S.H.I.E.L.D. gadgetry there, I presume?

My highly advanced 2005 handheld recorder is nothing to screw around with. Anyway, how far back did you know Ward was going to be revealed as a double agent? 

They told me the episode before [the big twist], and I’m glad they didn’t tell me any earlier than that. It would have been difficult to keep it a secret! Looking back, there’s all these scenes where all I was doing was listening. It would’ve been, “am I listening like a spy now? Or am I listening as Grant Ward?” Its really difficult working out something like that. So yeah, it was the episode before, and the [showrunners] called me to their office, and I thought I was going to get fired… as it turns out, I didn’t get fired. Instead, I was given a different job entirely! Its like being called to the principal’s office, with an entirely different outcome!

. is a Joss Whedon program… does the cast live in fear of being unceremoniously killed off?

Well I didn’t until now, Doug, thanks man! [laughs] Jeez, I haven’t heard that in a while. I think one of the first tweets I ever made was something along the lines of, “Hey, my buddy told me that Joss Whedon kills more characters than cancer!” I guess that’s always a possibility. However, on the receiving end of such an interesting storyline, I am well aware that the story comes first. What I’d rather do is be on an interesting, dynamic show that changes all the time instead of a staple on a show that runs forever and doesn’t change much. The story comes first. If that’s on the cards, everyone would be on board for that.

How fun is it to openly play a villainous role throughout season 2? 

fun. It has been a great opportunity for this whole thing. I actually get to play three characters. In the first sixteen-seventeen episodes, I was this specialist who had all these different capabilities, but no social skills. Then, I got to play the turncoat, getting to roam around town causing havoc with Agent Garrett. Then, I get to play another whole character this season as well, which is someone who could possibly reform, someone who has definitely gone through a lot of questioning. He’s been through of a hell of a “time out” for the past six months and taking that out on himself, forced to sit with his decisions for a long time. Now we get to see another aspect of the character, which is possibly the truer version of Grant Ward.

Last season was a little bit about his backstory, while this season is really about his future. We get to see who this guy is without Garrett. He’s not around to tell me what to do. He seems to be telling the truth in the show. Who is this guy? What does he want? Is he a purely changed man who has seen the light and only wants to help other people? I don’t know. We’ll experience this together. We’ll figure this whole thing out.

Dalton’s Agent Ward (left) was revealed to be in league with Bill Paxton’s deranged Agent Garrett (right), part of the Deathlok supersoldier program.

Your role in this season so far has been compared to Hannibal Lector’s role in

, helping the heroes catch other villainous characters. Have you actually found any inspiration from Anthony Hopkins

[Author\'s note: Hopkins also plays Thor\'s father, Odin, in the Thor movies]

I think any time you have someone in solitary confinement, with people going to them for intel or advice, there will be a comparison to Hannibal Lector. I will say that I ate a lot of fava beans and chianti to prepare, but other than that, I think that his performance was brilliant, I’ve seen the movie multiple times, he’s brilliant. We’re doing something slightly different. That’s actually flattering to be compared [to Hopkins], because he plays his role so chillingly. We’re playing our own storyline… I’m flattered by the comparisons, but I’m just trying to be Grant Ward!

Ward’s role in Season 2, being confined in a S.H.I.E.L.D. holding cell, has been compared to Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs.

One of my favorite actors, Kyle MacLachlan, has been added to the cast as Skye’s seemingly villainous father. Have you had the chance to work with him yet? 

Oh man! No, no, I haven’t. You should come and visit though, my goodness, I have met him because obviously we get together for table reads and things like that. He’s a very sweet man, and his performance is just insane, he’s incredible! I think he was in the [pre-credits tease] for [episode 2]. He’s so good in that tag, right?

Yeah, I’ve never actually seen him play a villainous type role! I’m used to seeing him as clean-cut types like Agent Cooper in

Right! Though he’s never quite a STRAIGHT leading man, there’s always something a bit off about him in the most intriguing way. Certainly, I never feel like “he’s a winner”! Its more like “he’s gonna win the day, but he has a fascination with red telephones for some reason.” There’s always some weird aspect in there.

Though, I gotta say, there was a big Grant Ward-sized hole in that episode! There’s lots of good stuff coming your way. You’re gonna learn a bit more about Ward, Skye, and Skye’s father. So, that whole storyline is definitely heating up.

Kyle MacLachlan will play a major role in Season 2 as Agent Skye’s sketchy as hell father.

: What was it like working with Sam Jackson in the first season finale? 

Well… that thing was all movie magic! I worked mostly with Bill Paxton, he was on set. The whole temperature of the studio changes when he’s in the room. I was introduced to [Jackson], it was mostly “Hey, what’s up?” A very brief interaction! Eye patch or not, that guy carries weight no matter what he does. We shared the same studio, at the very least. Not sure what else I’m allowed to say!

Gotta be careful or Marvel might send the Winter Soldier after you. [awkward forced laugh from everyone] Well, thank you for your time, Brett, and I look forward to seeing you on next week’s episode.

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Such a lousy POS import junk show that no one watches, at least no one within America. Fake imported alien actors with fake ancestors and fake histories don’t live much longer than this import junk. Marketing troll campaigns heralding this junk and its junk fake actors aren’t working for it. It’s deader than television. CANCELLED!!!!!!!!!!!!

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