Is 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Hosting A 'Doctor Strange' Cameo This Season?

When looking at the state of Marvel TV and Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) tie-ins, there haven't been too many direct tie-ins over the past two years. That doesn't mean there hasn't been a fair amount of connectivity shared between Marvel TV and the MCU, we could just use more of a linear type of connectivity between Marvel films and television series. That being said, this year might be the year that Marvel TV officially crosses over with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Recently, Jed Whedon and Marissa Tanchereon, producers on Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. spoke with Entertainment Weekly, on the tie-in potential between Season Four of Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Doctor Strange. Here's what Whedon and Tanchereon had to say in regards to this year's Marvel TV and MCU tie-in.

"Our ties are at times very direct and at times are more thematic,""The tie this year will feel more of a reflection of the movie, less an interweaving plot. As that movie hits the world, it comes at the right time in our show, and you will see some of those same ideas being explored.""The same questions that our team is exploring leading up to the premiere of Doctor Strange, perhaps some of those concepts will be reflected in the movie and then carried through.""Doctor Strange will introduce some new ideas, but we’re starting to lay the first brick in the yellow brick road to that."

After looking closely at the comments made by Jed Whedon and Marissa Tanchereon, they're clearly hinting at a bigger story being told, and both Doctor Strange and Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. will directly attribute to the progression of said story.

As to what the story could entail is up for debate, but whatever connection Marvel TV and the MCU share this year, it's going to be the first step towards entering the realm of magic and mystery in the Marvel universe.

An event of that magnitude will undoubtedly catch the attention of Marvel fans everywhere so Jed Whedon and Marvel TV president Jeph Loeb, have to be careful when considering how to proceed with this year's tie-ins between Marvel TV and the MCU.

Is 'Doctor Strange' a gamble Marvel Studios can afford to make?

How Whedon and Loeb proceed with the Marvel TV tie-in will determine the level of fan approval Doctor Strange will receive later this year. If the tie-in does resonate with most fans, then Doctor Strange will very likely lead into more magic/supernatural story arcs being told in Marvel TV and the MCU. However, in the off chance that fans don't find the magical sect of Marvel worthy territory of exploring, then Doctor Strange could be the last MCU film to feature magically endowed heroes / villains. But no one expects the magic side of Marvel to be closed off after Doctor Strange premieres.

Regardless of fan reception to Doctor Strange, this year's tie-in with Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. can only progress in a few reasonable directions. It is possible for the tie-in between Marvel TV and the MCU to vary quite a sum but with so much riding on Doctor Strange performing well in the box office and the eyes of fans, this year's Marvel TV tie-in is going to have to be much more direct when it comes to dropping Easter Eggs for Doctor Strange. Maybe even so direct that a Doctor Strange cast member drops by for an episode of Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.? Who knows how Loeb and Whedon intend to interweave the stories of Marvel TV and the MCU this year but accounting for the likeliness of the separate Marvel universes hosting a pivotal connection between the two, in comparison to previous years, it's very plausible that a central character in Doctor Strange could make an appearance on Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Here are three Doctor Strange cast members who could believably make an appearance in Season Four of Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Christine Palmer a.k.a. Night Nurse

Christine Palmer will be played by Rachel McAdams in Doctor Strange, and her role as Palmer is that of a nurse. In the comics, Christine Palmer also goes by the moniker of Night Nurse as she aids the superhero community by providing medical care to superheroes who can't publicly seek help for their injuries - due to being labeled as fugitives.

In terms of how Palmer could appear on Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. her appearance may be more of an indirect tie-in, with the potential for Christine Palmer to be seen in a hospital somewhere. Palmer could believably make an appearance in a hospital, addressing Daisy's wounds after taking a beating from Ghost Rider. Along with the potential of Christine Palmer receiving a cameo, we could also see a passing glance of Dr. Stephen Strange in the same hospital, before he becomes the Sorcerer Supreme.

Baron Mordo

Baron Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is actually the character who needs an introduction on Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. the most. Since Baron Mordo will undergo a transformation in Doctor Strange, he's going to become the main antagonist and one of the most talked about characters in the film. But before that happens, Baron Mordo is going to be serving under the Ancient One as a loyal zealot. That portion of Baron Mordo's origin may not be touched on in Doctor Strange which means he could believably appear on Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. in a cameo to tell the part of his story that won't be reiterated in Doctor Strange. Mordo's purpose on Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. would likely come about in the scenario of either Daisy or S.H.I.E.L.D. seeking the advice from someone informed in the mystic arts. While that could happen, the aspect of turning to someone who knows "magic" might seem far-fetched to S.H.I.E.L.D. at first but with Ghost Rider unleashing his supernatural wrath on the world, S.H.I.E.L.D. is going to have to consider out-of-the ordinary solutions, including seeking the advice of magic users like Baron Mordo.

Doctor Stephen Strange

Yes, Dr. Stephen Strange could possibly show up on Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. this season. Although, he may be less strange than one would think. In the scenario of Stephen Strange making an appearance on Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D., the present Dr. Stephen Strange would be the Stephen Strange not yet affiliated with the magic world which ultimately means he is of no use to the plot of Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. However, Stephen Strange could jump in at unexpected moment, in the scenario of Daisy or another S.H.I.E.L.D. agent requiring medical treatment while out in the field. Of course, in that scenario, those events would probably have to take place in New York and it is possible with the setting of Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. always in a state of flux. One week the series can be in Los Angeles, the next week they can be in New York. And if one week's episode takes place in New York, Doctor Stephen Strange could cameo but he won't be the only Marvel character to make an appearance. A cast member from a separate Marvel TV series could also have a cameo on Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. since New York is a popular hangout for several known Marvel heroes and villains - but maybe that's wishing for too much.