Attention all Avengers and Joss Whedon enthusiasts: we previously reported that Marvel was planning to bring The Avengers universe to television. Now, thanks to Deadline, we have confirmation that ABC is greenlighting a S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot, which Joss Whedon is on board to co-write and potentially direct.
We last saw S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate) in this year’s The Avengers, where director Nick Fury recruited Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, and Thor to save the Earth from Loki’s army. Although S.H.I.E.L.D. will probably have a completely new cast of characters, a show basing its premise on the organization itself has a lot of potential.
Joss Whedon has been the showrunner behind many TV cult favourites, most notably Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly. He will be penning the pilot for S.H.I.E.L.D. with his brother Jed Whedon and Jed’s wife Marissa Tancharoen, both of whom worked with Joss on Dollhouse. Whedon will also direct the pilot, if his schedule permits.
The three writers will executive produce with Jeffrey Bell and Marvel TV’s Jeph Loeb and S.H.I.E.L.D. is set to go into production immediately. This will make it the first Marvel TV project to be greenlighted.
The new show is certainly a good way for fans to get their fill of the Marvel cinematic universe until The Avengers 2 is released in 2015. Though no details about the plot have been released, Whedon’s TV track record suggests that we may soon have another cult series on our hands. Then again, with the mainstream success of The Avengers, it’s more likely that S.H.I.E.L.D. will be a runaway ratings hit.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to S.H.I.E.L.D.? Let us know in the comments below.