Critically acclaimed filmmaker Joss Whedon recently talked with Entertainment Weekly for their annual Entertainers of the Year issue. And among the things he discussed was how directing Marvel's The Avengers exposed a bit of his inner anger for Hollywood and life in general. And also featured in EW's coverage are brief updates for Whedon's 2015 followup to this year's highest-grossing superhero movie, and his prospective S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series at Disney's ABC.
Meeting with Whedon days after he submitted the 1st outline of The Avengers sequel and amid his preparation for the S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot's filming commencement, EW says that if ABC picks up the series, “Whedon will remain involved as exec producer. And his brother Jed Whedon, his brother's wife Maurissa Tancharoen and Jeffrey Bell will serve as “lead showrunners.” In describing the show's story, EW says it will be a spy-fi drama tracking the ongoing adventures of the secret agents and superhero wranglers of Marvel’s movie world.
About all the inner anger that transpired this year, Whedon says, “I’ve had a wonderful career, and I’m grateful for it. But like every writer in Hollywood, there have been many times where I’ve said, ‘I swear to God, if you just me do this the way I’m thinking of doing it, it’ll work out!’ and I’ve been thwarted. Once you get to this place, where people will listen to you, give you the benefit of the doubt, and will get out of your way, all of the stuff you’ve learned to live with and tamped down, you don’t need to live with it anymore and so the basement door opens … and you go down into there … and read from the diary that raises the dead.” He laughs. “It’s a weird little counter-intuitive thing.” Whedon continues, “What was most astonishing to me about making [The Avengers] was how personal it was. I literally had the I’m-always-angry revelation during production. I had this certain amount of back-burner simmer of rage that I was completely aware of, but apparently I wrote it for Bruce Banner, going (to myself): ‘I think this is what a guy like this might go through!’ Interesting! What guy, Joss? ‘I don’t know! Some guy. I can’t think of anyone in particular, or why this is coming to me…’ Really, Joss? Really?”
Be sure to head over to Entertainment Weekly for the full interview. Anyhow, with an outline already completed for Marvel's The Avengers sequel, the grand master plan for “Phase 2” of Marvel's shared cinematic universe is pretty much shaped up. What do you think?
Marvel Studios already describes their highly-anticipated sequel to the No. 3 highest grossing film of all time, “Marvel's The Avengers,” as another “big cinematic event.” And expected to feature the reassembly of iconic Marvel super heroes Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye, Black Widow & Nick Fury taking on a new unexpected enemy, new additions to the superhero team up of a lifetime are possible.
Expecting reprisals from Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon from a screenplay by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” sequel is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. And set for release May 1, 2015, the film is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. In addition to the sequel, Marvel Studios will release a slate of films based on the Marvel characters including “Iron Man 3” on May 3, 2013; “Thor: The Dark World ” on November 8, 2013; “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” on April 4, 2014; and “Guardians of the Galaxy” on August 1, 2014.