Whedon's "Marvel-based" Series Follows S.H.I.E.L.D

It's official. The series announcement that Disney teased us all with a little while ago has been announced that it will follow the exploits of S.H.I.E.L.D (Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division). While Captain America and the rest of the Avengers cast is not expected to sign on, that doesn't count out our two prominent agents—so as long as the series doesn't follow the post-The Avengers timeline (we all want Phil Coulson in our lives).

This is speculative, but I can almost guarantee that Cobie Smulders will want to be a part of this project to reprise her role as Agent Maria Hill. In fact, she should be the main character because—come on! She's still a regular cast member on "How I Met Your Mother" though, so the chances of a scheduling conflict is very real. However, I have a good feeling about this.

ABC has ordered a pilot, and while Whedon may not have the time to really get his hands dirty with this project since "The Avengers" sequel is on his plate, several of his "Whedonites," such as Jed Whedon, Jeffrey Bell, and Maurissa Tancheroen, are on board with this one.

Other than the pilot, there aren't any details, so how the show's overall scope and feel is impossible to grasp; but the fact that this is actually happening, with these group of people a part of it, means that something a slice above your standard television series is currently in the works.

I for one am a happy schoolboy.

Joss Whedon and The Marvel Bunch

I thought that Whedon would perhaps hang up the cape and tights, so to speak, after his riveting box office and critic success with "The Avengers" for something more up his alley in the world of television, but it's been revealed by Disney's Chairman, Bog Iger, that the Buffy and Firefly progenitor will be back to write and direct "The Avengers 2." This is fantastic news because that may mean this decade's slew of comic book superhero movies may become successful and respected trilogies (if not more) like "The Dark Knight" series of movies by Christopher Nolan. (I, for one, have complete faith in "The Amazing Spider-man" if Marc Webb continues to direct them.)

In addition, Whedon is also slated to create a "Marvel-based" TV series for ABC. Now this one would be incredible; it's television, so it's perfect for this man, but also because this medium could use a boost. Movies as of late have been impressing me, especially those with a fantasy or science fiction spin (my favorites), but TV is still overrun by reality television silliness, something even ABC cannot be absolved of (I'm looking at you mind-numbing Bachelor series). With Whedon on the job, I can potentially see a real, quality superhero series on network television, unlike NBC's disastrous "The Cape."

You all may remember Disney lost a ton of money earlier in the year with their gaffe "John Carter," so I can only hope that the behemoth company will allow Whedon--and every other person involved on the series--to do with it what they will. I trust creative minds because creativity tends to produce quality. Disney couldn't possibly be remiss with this project and allow their TV tropes to infect it. "The Avengers" made them $1.5 billion, so it would be terribly, regrettably stupid to allow any producer to "try" and facilitate in this television show's production. And if it doesn't hold up in the ratings as well as predictions will have it, simply wait. As FOX learned time and again with Whedon: his shows are like precious stones that need to be nurtured till they've turned to diamonds. I've got thousands upon millions of "Firefly" and "Dollhouse" fans who wouldn't disagree.

Only time will tell what will come of all this.