Joss Whedon Might Helm the Avengers

According to many sources, including Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline, it seems that everyone’s favorite fan-god, Joss Whedon, will be directing the Marvel’s upcoming Avenger’s film.

According to Variety, Whedon will also rewriting the script written by Zak Penn. Penn has a very long history of taking Marvel’s properties from comic page to screen with X-Men, X-Men 2: The last Stand, Hulk and Electra.

Whedon seems like the perfect man for the job. He created such cult hit TV such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin off Angel, Firefly and Dollhouse, as well as internet sensation Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog. He directed many episodes of the shows he created, but also directed for other series such as the Office as well as an upcoming episode of Glee. His one directorial effort in film, a big screen sequel to the short lived Firefly series called Serenity, was welcomed with good reviews although it failed at the box office. Whedon is also well versed in the Marvel Universe, with writing for Astonishing X-Men for four years with John Cassady on as artist.

The Avengers film will be the culmination of story lines started in the films starring Marvel’s superheroes the Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America,  and Thor as well as comic book  mainstays the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye and the Vision.  Marvel has plenty on their plate right now with the release date of Iron Man 2 opening May 7th,  Thor in production now in mexico and Captain America shooting this summer in England.

If Whedon is to direct the Avenger’s flick, he’ll be shooting early 2011 with Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and although there is no word on whether Ed Norton will reprise his role as the Hulk, it is still a  possibility. There is no doubt that Whedon’s involvement can make this film a true joy to watch.

The Avengers is slated to hit theaters on May 2012.