Clark Gregg Reveals His 'One Great Regret' in the Marvel Universe — and How It Ties to Angela Bassett (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Clark Gregg, Angela Bassett.Photo:Taylor Hill/WireImage; TheStewartofNY/Getty

Clark Gregg, Angela Bassett

Taylor Hill/WireImage; TheStewartofNY/Getty

Clark Gregghas loved hisMarvelexperience overall, except for one thing.

The actor, 62, told PEOPLE exclusively at theZero Daypremiere at The Plaza Hotel in New York City on Feb. 18 that he has “one great regret” from his time playing Agent Phil Coulson in the Marvel universe — not getting to work withAngela Bassett.

“I did get to speak to her once,” Gregg said when asked if he and Bassett, 66, were able to communicate on the set of their new Netflix series. “And I said, ‘You know, my one great regret within the Marvel universe was that Agent Phil Coulson was no longer technically alive when Wakanda showed up.’ "

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Cobie Smulders and Clark Gregg in ‘The Avengers’.Marvel Enterprises/Kobal/Shutterstock

Cobie Smulders, Clark Gregg The Avengers - 2012

Marvel Enterprises/Kobal/Shutterstock

Bassett graced the big screen as Queen Ramonda in Marvel’sBlack Panther,Avengers: EndgameandBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever– the latter of which earned her anOscar nomination.

However, the two actors never crossed paths while working on their respective Marvel projects, as Gregg’s character wasn’t around whenBlack Panther’s fictional country of Wakanda was introduced.

Gregg told PEOPLE, though, that he was invited to an event to celebrate the release ofBlack Panther, which he called “maybe the best premiere ever.”

Gregg starred in the Marvel moviesIron Man,Iron Man 2,Thor,The AvengersandCaptain Marvel.

His character was seemingly killed off in the firstAvengersmovie, but was ressurected in the Marvel television series,Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which he starred in from 2013 to 2020.

The actor also reprised his role in seasons 1 and 3 of theWhat If…?animated series.

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Angela Bassett at the world premiere of Marvel Studios Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Gregg, who previously starred in Netflix’sPainkiller, portrays billionaire Robert Lyndon, who plays a crucial role in the attack.

Bassett, meanwhile, stars as President Evelyn Mitchell, and the rest of the star-studded cast includesJesse Plemons,Lizzy Caplan,Connie Britton, Joan Allen andMatthew Modine.

“My scenes are very specifically with one specific character whom I will not name,” he told PEOPLE at the premiere. “But, I mean, there isn’t an actor in this cast that I wasn’t stunned to get to work with.”

Gregg added, “Joan Allen is one of my heroes. Of course, Robert De Niro. I got to work a little bit with Jesse Plemons, who I’m a huge fan of. Everyone in this thing is a major leader.”

Zero Dayis currently streaming on Netflix.

source: people.com