Whedon to direct The Avengers?

[Skywalker]

"Sources ... have revealed that another leading contender on that short list to direct THE AVENGERS film is none other than Joss Whedon."

IESB also makes it clear that this is not an April Fools joke, and that it really is a serious rumor they're pursuing. I'm still skeptical, but if this does turn out to be true, what do you guys think of the idea?

 

[Checkmate]

Ugh.

 

[Turtletrekker]

I say "woo" and "hoo"!

 

[Admiral_Young]

I think it would be awesome if Joss directed Avengers. Zak Penn wrote the script so its not like Joss wrote it himself if anyone has a problem with that. We know Joss can handle large cast's well. The only negative thing for me is if he accepts or he and Marvel sign what does this mean for the possible Dr. Horrible theatrical film?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

IESB also makes it clear that this is not an April Fools joke

Riiiiiiiiight. Sure it ain't.

 

[Skywalker]

IESB also makes it clear that this is not an April Fools joke

Riiiiiiiiight. Sure it ain't.

I know, I know. Hence the "I'm still skeptical" part. I almost didn't post it, but I decided to go ahead anyway, just in case this does turn out to be real.

 

[Admiral_Young]

There are legit stories still posted on April 1's. Fools Day is supposed to end before noon I think technically. All the stupid jokes and shit happen in the morning.

 

[FreezeC77]

If it turns out to be a real possibility and not an April Fool's Day thing I don't know how I feel about this. His only real big time movie is Serenity, which I love being a huge Firefly fan, but I'm not sure how he fits into this kind of mega-blockbuster.

He definitely has the comic knowledge of the characters involved, although I think he'd be better suited to an X-men movie then the Avengers. I could really see Iron Man and Captain America play off each other as funny man/stoic straight man in the Avengers movie.

 

[Caliburn24]

I'd love if Whedon did do Avengers, but he won't do be doing it. This is either an April fool's gag, or wiser studio heads will realize that giving a picture this big, and it'll probably be budgeted upwards of 150 million, possibly 200 million, to someone who has never directed anything nearly as huge would be a mistake.

Avengers will be given to someone who is a proven action director.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ I don't understand that...Jon Favearu wasn't a big action or blockbuster director before he took on Iron Man and look what he did with that?

 

[Hermiod]

Not convinced yet that this isn't an April Fool. I already fell for one yesterday (curse you Chris Jericho!!!!).

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ I don't understand that...Jon Favearu wasn't a big action or blockbuster director before he took on Iron Man and look what he did with that?

Nor was Bryan Singer before X-Men. Or Chris Nolan before Batman Begins. Or Kenneth Branagh before Thor. So it's hardly unprecedented.

As has been said, Whedon is a comics fan and is good at juggling large casts. I suspect that he's only one on a reasonably large list but it would be great if he ended up the last one on the list.

 

[Nick Ryder]

Plus Whedon does have geek-cred... I mean people will show up just BECAUSE "it's a Joss Whedon film", even though he didn't write it or create it or anything. Of course, they'll probably be looking for subtle Firefly, Buffy/Angel and Dollhouse references. I mean hell they look for it in Castle, for which the only thing in common with Whedon is Nathan Fillion.

Am I the only one who thinks Fillion would make a pretty cool Hank Pym?

 

[T'Baio]

I don't know if it's real or not, but it's silly to say Marvel et al would never give this project to someone without experience on something this big. Examples have been cited, and Marvel has said and shown in the past that they take risks on talent. And Serenity was a well handled action film, that juggled a large cast with an involving plot and special effects.

To be honest, Joe Johnston still surprises me more than Whedon would.

 

[Nick Ryder]

I think the only thing that hurt Serenity was the fact it was a continuation of a series that not everyone knew about. If it was just a straight action flick or pretty much ignored the series and just went with intro'ing the characters and the universe and all, it might have done a bit better... I mean i thought Serenity was an amazing film, well paced, good writing, and felt like the series could continue if they wanted to. It wasn't like the X-Files film which just felt like a 2 hour long episode with a few larger set pieces. It felt like a movie.

So I dunno I think Whedon could be a good choice to be honest, plus he's good at handling actors who are rather big ego'd, like RDJr and Chris Evans. He won't just kiss their asses, he'll make 'em work.

My only only only hope is that if they do go with Joss Whedon they limit the "whedon-verse" references. For one thing Marvel doesn't own the rights to the Buffy/Angel/Firefly/Dollhouse franchises so they couldn't use names and such, plus I'd rather my easter eggs come from the characters not from another TV show.Although I wouldn't mind a few of his stable of actors... providing they can embody that character and not just be "Hey look it's Castle!" or "Hey look its Spike!" or "Hey look its..."

Its a fine rope, but who knows... Whedon has written for Marvel before on the X-Men and did a pretty fair job, so it wouldn't shock me if they did tap him

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

It won't happen. Whedon is too idiosyncratic a writer and producer to do other people's big commercial projects - he'll wind up uncomfortable or the studio will be unhappy with him before it gets to the stage.

Which is great if you like his work, and I adore it. People who have his skills and imagination should waste a minimum of time in their lives doing what other people think is a good idea.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Also its curious as I think there were comments from him several years ago when asked about "The Avengers" that he didn't think a project like this would mesh with his own interests or whatever he said. I agree with T'Biao regarding Marvel's selection for Joe Johnston I wasn't even thinking about him for "Captain America" or even Kenneth Brannagh for "Thor". We'll see if this story gets confirmed over the weekend or the next few days. I was surprised when I came across the story.

 

[T'Baio]

I was surprised by Joe Johnston because he doesn't seem so much like a guy with an eye, so to speak, but a go to guy to get your shit done. A Brett Ratner minus the cloud of pretentiousness and kit of crayolas to colour within the lines. Johnston is talented, and perhaps he just needs a chance to prove his ability to make something really unique, but he's more a man of workmanship than vision.

 

[FordSVT]

^ I don't understand that...Jon Favearu wasn't a big action or blockbuster director before he took on Iron Man and look what he did with that?

Nor was Bryan Singer before X-Men. Or Chris Nolan before Batman Begins. Or Kenneth Branagh before Thor. So it's hardly unprecedented.

Peter Jackson had lower budgets than the price of my house before LOTR.

Though I can't stand most of the stuff he writes, I have no real opinion of Joss's directing. It's rather unremarkable.

 

[tharpdevenport]

I think Whedon wouldn't do it. And plus, directing is nothing -- it's a combo that has to include the script, so unless it's a good script, his directing would be pointless.