THE AVENGERS Gets Joss Whedon As Director

Joss Whedon, best known for his quirky science fiction and fantasy television series’ “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Firefly”, is in “final negotiations” to direct the long awaited film THE AVENGERS, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“The Avengers” is a melting pot of numerous Marvel characters joining forces to defeat evil-doers that no hero could best alone. Whedon’s offbeat sensibility and humor makes him an unusual choice for the serious action/adventure franchise that Marvel has in store; however, fans of Whedon would argue that there is no better person for the job.

With his previous works, Joss Whedon has become somewhat of an icon in the comic book world. His foundation in writing–with films such as “Alien Resurrection” stemming from under his pen–and his own self-proclaimed fan boy nature, gives him the skills in storytelling needed to tackle a franchise with such a deep history and avid followers.

Marvel, now owned by The Walt Disney Corporation, is set to produce with Paramount Pictures in line to distribute. The film is set to begin production in 2011, meaning there is still plenty of time left to wait for “The Avengers” to hit the big screen. The studio will likely look to the success of their upcoming superhero films such as “Ironman 2” when scheduling a final release date for The Avengers tentatively scheduled for May 4, 2012.