Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is an American television series created for ABC by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen, based on the Marvel Comics organization S.H.I.E.L.D., a peacekeeping and spy agency in a world of superheroes. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and acknowledges the continuity of the franchise's films and other television series.The Avengers writer and director Joss Whedon began developing a S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot following the film's release in August 2012, and Gregg was confirmed to reprise his role that October. The series was officially picked up by ABC in May 2013. The series attempted to replicate the production value of the MCU films on a broadcast television budget, while also having to work within the constraints of the MCU which were dictated by Marvel Studios and the films. Prosthetic makeup was created by Glenn Hetrick's Optic Nerve Studios, while Legacy Effects contributed other practical effects. Composer Bear McCreary recorded each episode's score with a full orchestra, while the visual effects for the series were created by several different vendors and have been nominated for multiple awards.