A source has told Slashfilm just how Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson fits into the upcoming Marvel/Joss Whedon television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It’s all kinds of spoilerfied, so only read below, if you want to know.

Ever since it was revealed that Coulson would be appearing on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., fans have been madly speculating about just exactly how that would work.

As you may recall, of course, Agent Coulson dies in The Avengers, and his death serves as the catalyst for the team’s eventual camaraderie; it gives them something to “avenge”, as it were.

Here’s what Slashfilm is reporting:

*SPOILER ALERT*

In the pilot, it’s revealed Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the ultimate super spy, faked Agent Coulson’s death on purpose to motivate The Avengers. Some S.H.I.E.L.D. members were in on it (including, possibly, Maria Hill played by Cobie Smulders) but The Avengers were not. Their security clearance wasn’t high enough. Coulson was forced to hold his breath as part of the ruse and that’s a point of contention among his colleagues  After the fact, Fury moved him to a remote location until things died down, and then he was reinserted into duty at the time of the show.

Now, if you’ve seen The Avengers, there is no doubt you had this very thought, immediately. How could you not? It’s even hinted at by Maria Hill calling Nick Fury out on his bullshit about Coulson’s Captain America trading cards being in Coulson’s jacket.

Also, if you’re one of the fans who has been madly speculating, then you’re probably a little disappointed that this is it. It is a bit of a dull explanation, when you compare it to the wild predictions that have been floating around the internet. The good thing for us, however, is that this can’t possible be all there is to it. Oh, he just “didn’t die”? No, there’s going to be something more to it, and it will likely be a subplot as the series moves forward (and potentially leads into upcoming films). Sure, it appears there won’t be any Asgardian magic or gamma radiation blasts involved in Coulson’s resurrection, but one of the more interesting possibilities thrown out there still remains just as alive and well as Coulson himself: Coulson could still be The Vision, and that would be seriously cool.

Do you like this revelation about how Agent Coulson returns?