Marvel Finally Confirms Agent's of Shield MCU Canon Status After 3 Years

Summary

The official timeline book of the Marvel Cinematic Universe confirms that Agents of SHIELD is not considered canon after Phil Coulson's death in The Avengers.

Kevin Feige recognizes that there are Marvel narratives that are part of the multiverse but do not align with the Sacred Timeline.

The book's timeline specifically concentrates on the MCU's Sacred Timeline until Phase 4, without taking into account any events or storytelling from Agents of SHIELD.

The canon status of Agents of SHIELD in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally been resolved. Despite being initially considered part of the main MCU timeline, the TV show never crossed paths with the Marvel Studios movies, although it did have an impact on films like Avengers: Age of Ultron. This has led to the ongoing debate about whether Agents of SHIELD is truly canon in the MCU.

The new book, Marvel Studios The Marvel Cinematic Universe An Official Timeline, addresses the situation by providing an in-depth coverage of the entire MCU Phase 1 through 4. While The Death of Phil Coulson is discussed, highlighting his heroic sacrifice and death in The Avengers, there is no mention or suggestion of his resurrection or his team in Agents of SHIELD. However, there is a glimmer of hope for the team's future, as Kevin Feige states the following in the book's forward:

How Agents Of Shield Could Still Become Retroactive MCU Canon

Regarding the Multiverse, it is important to acknowledge that within the Marvel universe, there exist various narratives - including movies and series - that hold canonical significance, yet were crafted by different storytellers across different periods in Marvel's rich history. The timeline outlined within this book specifically pertains to the Sacred Timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe up until Phase 4. However, as we venture further into the Multiverse Saga, there is always the potential for timelines to collide or merge unexpectedly (spoiler alert!).

Feige's recent statement may settle the Agents of SHIELD debate temporarily, but there is still a possibility that the Marvel TV show could retroactively become part of the canon. In Marvel Studios The Marvel Cinematic Universe An Official Timeline, Feige's forward also alludes to the potential convergence or clash of timelines as the Multiverse Saga unfolds. Although not explicitly stated, Feige subtly hints at the ultimate culmination of The Multiverse Saga, which includes Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.

It is rumored that Avengers: Secret Wars may lead to a soft reboot of the MCU, potentially incorporating Agents of SHIELD and other Marvel TV shows into the main MCU timeline. Interestingly, Daredevil: Born Again is starting anew because Marvel Studios executives wanted it to align more closely with the popular Netflix TV show. While Kevin Feige may not consider these shows part of his main canon, only time will reveal if any Agents of SHIELD characters will appear in Phases 5 and 6. However, it appears that the possibility of their inclusion is not completely off the table.

Feige's stance on Coulson's history in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Official Timeline is somewhat comedic, considering how he previously confirmed that Agents of SHIELD was canon to the MCU. Given that Coulson originated as an MCU character, long-time audience members may question how this situation has unfolded. Regardless of canon, fans can still enjoy every season of Agents of SHIELD on Disney+ and through Blu-Ray/DVD.

Source: Marvel Studios The Marvel Cinematic Universe An Official Timeline