AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Shifting to Summer for Season 6

Despite being one of the network’s lowest-rated shows, ABC renewed Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for a sixth season. The new season will run for 13 episodes, which is a much smaller order than the usual 22. While it was originally reported to be held until midseason, it turns out we’re gonna have to wait even longer.

ABC announced at Upfronts today (via TV Line) that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. won’t be back until summer 2019. Network president Channing Dungey says that this was ABC’s decision, and the network hopes that the summer slot will bring more success to the show, and thus, keep it running longer.

Dungey also says that the move had nothing to do with Marvel’s movie plans, despite this week’s finale being directly impacted by Avengers: Infinity War and the new season likely premiering after Avengers 4.

And now for the big question: Is season six going to be Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s last? As of right now, Dungey says that’s not the plan. “I feel like Season 5 was their creatively strongest yet, so I don’t at the moment have any plans to think of Season 6 as the last season.”

We shall see if the summer slot will breathe new life into Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. next year. The season five finale airs this Friday night at 9 PM EST.