Agents of SHIELD officially reveals new director's identity

Though Marvel tried to keep it under wraps, the new director’s identity has been revealed. EW can officially confirm that Jason O’Mara is playing Jeffrey Mace, otherwise known in the comics as the Patriot. (Ahem.)

Created in the 1940s, when he first appeared in The Human Torch #4, the Patriot was a former reporter who was inspired by Captain America to become a superhero, despite his own lack of powers. Mace founded the Liberty Legion and eventually became the third Captain America.

As the show tends to do, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has put a twist on the character by infusing him with powers and turning the Patriot into an Inhuman. That’s exactly why he got the top job at S.H.I.E.L.D., because Coulson (Clark Gregg) suggested that the new director should be a powered person the public could trust, especially in the wake of Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, going AWOL.

“We are excited to have the Patriot joining our show, a character who has existed in Marvel Comics for 70 years,” executive producers Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen tell EW. “Jason O’Mara brings a perfect balance of charm, mystery, heroism and humor.”

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.