Joss Whedon to direct Avengers sequel

CBC News

Posted: Aug 8, 2012 12:04 PM ET

Last Updated: Aug 8, 2012 1:46 PM ET

Chris Evans, left, as Captain America, and Robert Downey Jr., portraying Tony Stark, are shown in a scene from The Avengers. It's the year's biggest movie so far and a sequel is in the works. (Zade Rosethal/Disney/Associated Press)

Joss Whedon has been hired to create a sequel to The Avengers, his superhero summer blockbuster.

The writer-director behind TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel is also helping develop a TV series for ABC based on Marvel comic characters.

The sequel announcement came Tuesday from Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger, which produced the film and owns ABC.

The Avengers teamed up Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, the Hulk, Hawkeye and Black Widow to help save the Earth from Loki and his army.

The film has so far earned about $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office, making it the biggest hit of 2012.

No production dates were released for the sequel or the TV series.

Meanwhile Avengers star Robert Downey Jr. is filming Iron Man 3 and Chris Hemsworth is making a Thor movie, which is due out in November 2013.

Whedon, who also wrote The Cabin in the Woods, has also signed on to make a film version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and is in post-production with his project In Your Eyes.

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