'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' season 5 premiere date, spoilers, news: Lance Hunter returns; Clark Gregg to direct one episode

A promotional image for "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." featuring Clark Gregg and Ming-Na Wen. Facebook/AgentsofShield

The upcoming season of Marvel's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." has many surprises in store for the fans. Aside from a new plot and villains, season 5 is expected to feature the return of a fan-favorite character.

According to Entertainment Weekly, former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Lance Hunter (Nick Blood) will be a part of the season 5 cast. Lance first appeared in season 2, where he was introduced as a mercenary recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D.

Blood left the series back in season 3 as his character quit S.H.I.E.L.D. after being compromised. Lance, along with his wife Bobbi Morse (Adrianne Palicki), was set to star in the "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" spin-off series "Most Wanted." Unfortunately, ABC dropped the TV project.

Entertainment Weekly did not reveal the circumstances of Lance's return in "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." season 5 as the production team is keeping every detail under wraps. However, the publication was able to obtain an exclusive first look at the actor as he starts shooting scenes for the upcoming fifth season.

Meanwhile, "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." season 5 will be another milestone for a main cast member, Clark Gregg. The actor, who plays the role of Agent Phil Coulson, is reported to serve as a director for at least one episode.

Gregg confirmed on Twitter that he will be working behind the camera to direct a single episode, which began shooting last week.

Gregg's stint as a director for "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." season 5 will be his first time for a television series. However, the actor already has directorial experience in feature-length movies such as "Choke" and "Trust Me."

The actor has been leading the "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." cast since the first season. His character first appeared in 2012's "The Avengers" where he was killed but was brought back in the TV show as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s trusted spy.

"Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." season 5 has no exact release date yet but it is expected to premiere later this year.

News
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster

Bishop Richard Moth has been confirmed as the new Archbishop of Westminster, the most senior post in the Catholic Church in England and Wales. 

The mystery of the Wise Men
The mystery of the Wise Men

The carol assures us that “We three kings of Orient are…” and tells us they were “following yonder star”. Can we be sure there were three of them? Were they kings? Where in the Orient were they from? What was the star they followed? In fact, there is a lot that we just do not know. This is the story …

English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day

English Heritage has admitted it got it wrong when it shared false claims that the date of Christmas is derived from a pagan Roman festival in honour of a sun god.

Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'
Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'

Pam Knowles started helping out her church Sunday school in 1951 at the age of 13.