“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” has only been running for three weeks, but it is now the third broadcast series to earn a pickup this fall.
ABC has formally announced that “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” will get a full season. Typically that means an additional “back nine” episodes will be added to the initial order of 13 episodes; which would mean there will be at least 22 episodes in the season. However, ABC has been known to run 24 episode seasons, so it’s conceivable that “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” may get some extra episodes if it continues to draw in impressive ratings for the network.
Prior to today, only “The Blacklist” on NBC and “Sleepy Hollow” on Fox have gotten additional episode orders from their respective networks. Although “Sleepy Hollow”’ received a 13-episode second season in 2014 as opposed to a back nine order to extend the first season.
Presumably, the early pickup for “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” will also allow the creative team to begin planning long term stories and a season finale that will payoff those stories.
“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” Season 1 continues next Tuesday, October 15 on ABC.
