Rumor has it that Avengers writer-director Joss Whedon has already begun plotting the sequel to the blockbuster film that blew audiences completely away this past Summer. According to the director, he has already tackled the screenplay and written an outline for The Avengers 2, and in the next couple of months he should have the script ready. At a recent red carpet event, Whedon told MTV News all about it.

I would say the second weekend [was the exhale moment], something I always say to executives is the first weekend is your job, the second weekend is mine. So if it had done an amazing first weekend and then disappeared from screens, that would have been my fault, so that was the one I was sort of counting.

I have done the outline [for Avengers 2], I am writing the script now and so the script should be done in a couple of months and I am pretty excited, I have to say…[for the sequel] Don't go bigger go deeper. The grand thing is that all these people have met, so you've gotten that out of the way, and now you can spend your time just digging in, and when I say 'digging in' I mean with a scalpel to cause pain."

Whedon not only talked about the status of the Avengers movie sequel, but he hinted about the status for the upcoming S.H.I.E.L.D. television series as well. According to the director, the pilot for the show will begin filming next week.

[The SHIELD TV show] will start shooting a week from Tuesday [and I am directing the pilot episode]…[in terms of comparing the scale of the show to the Avengers movie] you don't do that, you've got to bring a little bit of spectacle to it…it's got to be bigger than your average cop show. But at the end of the day it's about the peripheral people, about the people on the edges of the great adventures. The whole pint of the show is that even with all these big things [the Avengers movie], the little things matter. It's about people who don't have superpowers. So there will be some people with powers, there will be effects, there will be spectacle of science fiction storytelling, but all played on a very human, small level. So that's the sort of the appeal of the thing.

There was also a bit more news in regards to the timeline for the SHIELD television show. According to ABC President Paul Lee, there is "no question" that the S.H.I.E.L.D. television show will be taking place within the current Marvel cinematic universe, the real question is, when? Will the show take place prior to or following the events we saw in The Avengers? According to Lee, everything that happens in the upcoming ABC television series will take place after the events we saw unfold in The Avengers. As for how Agent Coulson fits into this story, we'll have to wait and see.

Whedon also revealed that he actively works on all the other Marvel movies currently in production, and he got into a bit of detail about his involvement in them as a whole.

[My involvement in the upcoming Marvel movies] It's been pretty equal. I read all the scripts and give notes on everything, I will look at cuts when they are ready to show me…I'll talk to directors when they want to…I try to make myself useful without being intrusive, but I've gotten to be a part of all of them [the Marvel movies] and that's a dream job for a kid like me.

If the sequel to The Avengers is as good as the first film, then Marvel fans can rest assured that their favorite characters will be in very good hands. What do you think of the news that Whedon has some sort of involvement in all of these upcoming films? Are you looking forward to seeing what happens in the next movie? Are you excited to watch his pilot episode of S.H.I.E.L.D?

Source: MTV and IGN

Avengers 2 are going to be huge and awesome movie i cant wait

You gotta respect the man.

I hope I'm not setting my expectations too high with SHIELD. I'm definitely excited for the pilot episode.

so still no actual confirmation that thanos is the big bad.

oh yes forgot.

In Josh we trust.

@Loki9876 said:

In Josh we trust.

This should be a meme

I can't wait for all of Marvel's new tv/cinema projects.

Whedon FTW!

I just hope that there is some awesome Ant-Man/Wasp action in Avengers 2.

@DH69 said:

so still no actual confirmation that thanos is the big bad.

Exactly what I scanned the article for.

The tag team of Whedon and Thanos are going to rock all over it's release year, bar none.

In Joss we trust. Because I do not know who Josh Whedon is.

"Don't go bigger, go deeper." A great statement. I feel like that's a problem with so many sequels. They try to make a bigger production with bigger fight scenes, explosions, drama, special effects, etc., rather than concentrating on a plot line that develops the characters. Can't wait for this!

Was just watching an episode of Firefly last night and started thinking about how much potential this show actually has....cant wait to see how it plays out.

@VioletPhoenix said:

In Joss we trust. Because I do not know who Josh Whedon is.

The man is so great.

Um honestly I don't know. I LOVE LOVE The Avengers movie, like so many people, but when Whedon said "Don't go bigger, go deeper" sounds like he's talking about having the characters do just that......talk. NO, no, no, no.

Most people know who the characters are. We don't need any damn personality or character examinations. That's soap opera shit. I may be thinking too negatively, I don't know.

I DO want big explosions, I DO want a lot of action, I DO want fights. Keep the "whoa is me I am a superhero but I have problems" character cliche' away, and just give us some FUN. Please.

Joss is going to give us some great story

Since (so far) Hawkeye has not been confirmed in any new films other than Avengers 2, hopefully Jeremy Renner can appear in the S.H.I.E.L.D. series. He played a large role in the Fury's Big Week comic.

@Slugg22 said:

"Don't go bigger, go deeper." A great statement. I feel like that's a problem with so many sequels. They try to make a bigger production with bigger fight scenes, explosions, drama, special effects, etc., rather than concentrating on a plot line that develops the characters. Can't wait for this!

This. I'm also glad that he's talking about character development, hopefully Hawkeye gets a more laid out background.

I was so confused in the first paragraph due to the phrase "has already tackled the screenplay," though in the actual quotations it's pretty clear that the outline's the part that's done and he is now in the process of tackling the screenplay.

/editorial_pettiness

I watch almost no TV, and Whedon's shows tend to be a whole bunch of heartbreak (mostly because they all get cancelled prematurely), but this is definitely huge on my radar. I never even thought about the role he played in the non Avengers films, so that's pretty cool that he gets to be on-board, in at least a small way, with all the movies that now play the role of bridging his. Guess that adds a whole new dimension of difficulty to scripting this, when you're not in charge of the character stories leading into it.

2015 will going to be an epic for many of us comic-reader-fans. America Justice, The Avengers 2 and Star Wars 7. I think my head hurts...

Dude made Marvel Studio's over a billion dollars. Who wouldn't allow him to oversee other projects they have planned?

@Grey56 said:

@DH69 said:

so still no actual confirmation that thanos is the big bad.

Exactly what I scanned the article for.

yeah but im hopin they hold off on him till the 3rd and suprise us with ultorn, kang or anyone else before him.

As son as I read "Don't go bigger go deeper" I can assure you Avengers 2 it's going to be EPIC :D

As for SHIELD I'm neutral, but I'll give it a try :)

All I can say about all of it is....are they on yet? Are they on yet? That is all...

I really want the show to work out but I don't see it doing so. I hope I'm wrong and they (the viewers) surprise me and make it a success.

JOSS WHEDON IS EVERYONE'S MASTER NOW!!!!!

I really enjoyed The Avengers, so I'm definitely excited to see Joss Whedon participate more in future projects, especially Avengers 2. I really can't wait for this!!! As for the S.H.I.E.L.D TV series, I'm not sure if I will be interested in that, but it might turn out to be good!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M RIDING SUCH A GEEK HIGH OVER THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@DH69:So long as they incorporate him at some point - I'm fine with it.

@Decept-O said:

Um honestly I don't know. I LOVE LOVE The Avengers movie, like so many people, but when Whedon said "Don't go bigger, go deeper" sounds like he's talking about having the characters do just that......talk. NO, no, no, no.

Most people know who the characters are. We don't need any damn personality or character examinations. That's soap opera shit. I may be thinking too negatively, I don't know.

I DO want big explosions, I DO want a lot of action, I DO want fights. Keep the "whoa is me I am a superhero but I have problems" character cliche' away, and just give us some FUN. Please.

I heard they are making Transformers 4. And a new Fast and the Furious. There you go.

Also, find me a modern superhero comic where page 1 to page 32 is nothing but explosions, action and fighting.

@ThomasElliot: Not trying to get into an argument and hopefully you're not trolling. You're taking my comment out of context.

I am saying...I want some action....I don't want the Avengers just to stand and around and talk about their "feelings".

@Decept-O said:

@ThomasElliot: Not trying to get into an argument and hopefully you're not trolling. You're taking my comment out of context.

I am saying...I want some action....I don't want the Avengers just to stand and around and talk about their "feelings".

I thought the first Avengers movie was pretty thick with dialogue and character exploration compared to typical action movies, but it was done so well that you probably didn't even notice (or care). Whedon's good at that. Don't worry, he won't turn this into a Nicholas Sparks film.

@akbogert: I sincerely hope. I do agree, there was a perfect melding of dialogue, character exploration and action. It was just right. Don't get me wrong, I do want some intelligent character interactions, dialogue and all that goes with a good movie, but what I was saying is that I HOPE the sequel doesn't stray into soap opera territory.

Yes, there is to be expected some of the aforementioned, esp with The Avengers, the earlier comics and all which ran into the Modern Age and even after, a lot of wild things happen to the characters just interpersonal levels. But... and I am beating a dead horse...I just am hesitant regarding Whedon's statement.

Reason being, I never could get into any of his TV work. Not to be a jerk and I don't hate him, but man, Firefly , Buffy and the like, just made me doze off after watching the episodes for a few minutes. This is what I am afraid will happen. I just hope he will bring it all like the first movie, it was nearly perfect. OK< I am done griping and will hold out hope!

@Decept-O: Hahaha. There probably aren't a lot of people would say "I really hope this isn't anything like Firefly." I guess we'll see.

@akbogert: I never said that specifically but I am inferring it to a degree. I fail to understand why people get their panties in a bunch regarding those shows. Booorrrriiinnnnggggg......However to each their own. Granted I never could do anything he's done and I am being a fanboy yes but again....just hope the Avengers sequel won't be character exploration without any action.

He did such a great job with The Avengers movie and I AM a fan as a result but...like you said, I guess we'll see. Fingers crossed!