What is seen as one of the more highly anticipated comic book movies has been turned over to Joss Whedon to direct. That’s right, the mind that brought you Firefly and Dollhouse (his most recent of bombs) is slated to direct the culmination comic book film of all comic book films to date – THE AVENGERS.
Whedon has been known to create great products that don’t get viewership. Serenity was a great film even if much of its audience weren’t fans or knew all that much about the Firefly predecessor. Besides having no ancestry the show Dollhouse was no different. Smart and snarky the show never found a home for its imagination. The man has done nothing but turn his creations into the very watchable. Thus, it can’t be the successes or lack thereof of Whedon’s recent career that is going to determine the success of upcoming Avengers title. Or can it? The writer / director will be playing with a stacked deck for what’s supposed to be the nerdgasm movie of the new century. Whedon has two potential killcards here and his The Avengers‘ fandom will most rely heavily on the credibility of Thor and Captain America – both slated for 2011 releases.
Chris Evans has garnered the title role for Captain America. Making his large Hollywood debut in Not Another Teen Movie (2001), Evans has gone onto such projects as The Fantastic Four, Sunshine, and the upcoming release of Losers. He has an ok resume but Marvel purists will question whether he can go from “the Human Torch” to toting Captain America’s shield with a measure of believability. The director of The Wolfman, Joe Johnston, has the directing nod for this project and fans of lycanthropes have borne witness to how lifeless a pre-written story can become when not given its proper attention.
Mythological hammer in hand, Thor is also readying. Chris Hemsworth (George Kirk; Star Trek) gets 
the head role of Scandinavian / comic legend. This Viking superhero installation is being directed by none other than Kenneth Branagh. Not to gloss over Branagh’s brass but the internet is already abuzz with one of the latest casting choices for the film. I think there is an appeal for comic fans to see Hemsworth as the title role in this film – no question. No, it’s not Natalie Portman who many will see as a welcome face in this comic film saga of sagas. Idris Elba has been cast to play the Nordic god Heimdall. It could be only interesting to sit down with the man who cast one of the best up-and-coming black actors to one of the {inarguably} “whitest” of roles.
The Avengers hinges heavily on the success of these two subsequent films and too much, perhaps, is being made about the directorial decision for it. Joss Whedon will direct what will be one of the more finalizing comic book movies ever and, as a culmination piece, it cannot rest solely in Mr. Buffy’s hands. With two Iron Man movies and a revamped Edward Norton-ed Incredible Hulk in the wings – all fans can do is sit back and wait for a decent build-up to warrant a cohesive superhero jamboree. And they will, tirelessly. What they get it is not all up to Whedon.
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