Remember the day Marvel announced “Avengers” writer-director Joss Whedon would return to direct “Avengers 2”?
The same announcement indicated Whedon would oversee a new Marvel-set ABC TV series set in the “Avengers” universe.
Today we received confirmation via a Deadline Hollywood exclusive that Whedon will co-write that series’ pilot with his “Dr. Horrible”/”Dollhouse” team – and looks likely to direct that pilot as well.
The name of the pilot is “S.H.I.E.L.D.,” which is also the name of the organization run by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) that actually assembled The Avengers in the movie.
Will Jackson appear in the series? Will a Jackson double appear out-of-focus in the background of certain shots? Will Colby Smulders, who co-stars with “Buffy” vet Alyson Hannigan and “Dr. Horrible” vet Neal Patrick Harris on “How I Met Your Mother,” reprise the role of SHIELD agent Maria Hill?
Will former “New Adventures of Old Christine” star Clark Gregg head the cast as Cyborg Phil Coulson?
And will there be Hulk? (ABC also has a “Hulk” series in the works with Guillermo Del Toro, so crossovers may not be inconceivable.)
Whedon, of course, has loads of experience writing and directing for television, having helmed episodes of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “Firefly” and even “The Office.”
A major question is whether Whedon will have time – while prepping “Avengers 2” – to serve as “S.H.I.E.L.D.” showrunner?
The answer may lie in the upcoming movies “Much Ado About Nothing” and “In Your Eyes,” two movies Whedon managed to write an/or direct and/or produce between “Avengers’” completion of principal photography and its release to cinemas.
Whedon also famously served as showrunner on “Firefly” as he was simultaneous showrunner on “Buffy” and “Angel.” The fellow can multitask.
S.H.I.E.L.D., by the way stands for Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate (or Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division).
Find all of Deadline’s exclusive on the matter here.
