Corona | Coming Attractions

The director of this summer's Avengers movie will direct the pilot episode for ABC's S.H.I.E.L.D., the proposed television series set within what's now being called the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In addition to directing the pilot episode, Whedon will co-write the script for the show with brother Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, wife of Jed.

All three will also executive produce the series, if it goes to series, along with Jeph Loeb, comic book writer-turned-screenwriter and producer, and Jeffrey Bell.

This is the first mention of the ABC Marvel TV show that Whedon agreed to be involved with. Previous to today, we knew that it would be set in the world of The Avengers, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America movies, but now we know that it will center on S.H.I.E.L.D., the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division in the Marvel movies.

What isn't known at this time is whether any appearances from S.H.I.E.L.D. agents from The Avengers movie, like Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) or Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) would turn up in the show -- or for that matter any Marvel movie superheroes.

What a S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series could do is serve as a launchpad for secondary Marvel heroes and villains to turn up. There are scores of superheroes that Marvel could draw on, from Moon Knight to members of the Avengers to villains from evil organizations like Hydra or A.I.M. (who we know will make a showing in Iron Man 3.)

How involved Joss Whedon would be on the S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show is also up in the air. The dude has to write the script for The Avengers 2, as well as direct it, but based on his past TV work he'll likely include concepts in the S.H.I.E.L.D. show that will make their way into Avengers 2.

If ABC enjoys the S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot, it could be on the network for the fall of 2013.