Back in August, Joss Whedon revealed that his new TV series S.H.I.E.L.D. will not feature any characters from his superhero blockbuster Marvel's The Avengers. Today, we have casting breakdowns for five of the characters, Skye, Agent Grant Ward, Agent Althea Rice, Agent Leo Fitz, and Agent Jemma Simmons. None of these characters have appeared in the pantheon of Marvel comic books. Take a look at the descriptions for each role.

"Skye: This late-20s woman sounds like a dream: fun, smart, caring and confident - with an ability to get the upper hand by using her wit and charm.

Agent Grant Ward: Quite the physical specimen and "cool under fire," he sometimes botches interpersonal relations. He's a quiet one with a bit of a temper, but he's the kind of guy that grows on you.

Agent Althea Rice: Also known as "The Calvary," this hard-core soldier has crazy skills when it comes to weapons and being a pilot. But her experiences have left her very quiet and a little damaged.

Agent Leo Fitz and Agent Jemma Simmons: These two came through training together and still choose to spend most of their time in each other's company. Their sibling-like relationship is reinforced by their shared nerd tendencies - she deals with biology and chemistry, he's a whiz at the technical side of weaponry."

Joss Whedon is tentatively set to direct the pilot, from a script he is co-writing with his brother Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen.