Chatting exclusively with The Playlist about his acclaimed cinematic take on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, Joss Whedon barely discussed his highly-anticipated Marvel endeavors. While comparing Much Ado to The Avengers and sharing thoughts on the superhero assembly's success, the filmmaker did offer vague, but promising, updates for the 2015 sequel and S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot.
“There's been enormous progress. We are trundling along, I can't share much. And by much I mean anything. I can say that "S.H.I.E.L.D" came together in a very organic way. And part of my taking "Avengers 2" was that I'd have the opportunity to work in the Marvel universe. I didn't exactly know I'd be running a TV show five minutes later. Yeah, but it's something I really believe in. Although, "Avengers" is the top of my list of exciting new things, "S.H.I.E.L.D." is really talking to me.”
“You know, [The Avengers' success] is lovely. I like a big round number. For years I've only said, "Look, trust me and I will make you money." I have respect for the business, for the fact that these people have made a great investment in me. But sometimes people make a great investment in you, and still not give you that trust. And then you can't, and then they cancel "Firefly." [laughs] And then for them to give me that much trust, and that much support, and for it to work for them and me and the audience -- for it to tap something because clearly it's greater than some of its parts.”
“You know, it's not a perfect film, but it seems to have tapped into a need, and that's more exciting then -- making a perfect little jewel. It's just hitting somebody in the gut, in a nice way. Kissing them in the gut? No, that sounds awful. But I have to say, there is not a number that can make me feel the way I felt during the screening of this, of "Much Ado," when the audience all got on their feet at the end. And I'm not saying I might have shed a tear, it's probably something I ate.”
For the Q&A interview in its entirety, make the jump over to The Playlist! What do you think?
