Joss Whedon updates on The Avengers 2, SHIELD TV show, and Marvel Phase Two; says he’s going “deeper”

MTV caught up with Joss Whedon recently and got some interesting tidbits about THE AVENGERS 2, the upcoming SHIELD TV show, and his overall involvement in 

On his measure and approach to a successful film:

“The second weekend.  Something I always say to executives is, ‘The first weekend is your job, the second weekend is mine.'”

On the status of THE AVENGERS 2:

“I’ve done the outline, I’m writing the script now…the script should be done in a couple of months. I’m pretty excited about it, I have to say.”

On his direction for THE AVENGERS 2:

“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 really spend your time just digging in.  And by digging in, I mean with a scalpel to cause pain.”

On the scale of the S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show:

“You’ve gotta bring a little bit of spectacle to it, it’s got to be bigger than, y’know, your average cop show.  But, at the end of the day it’s about the peripheral people, it’s about the people on the edges of the grand adventures.  The whole point of the show is that even with all these big things, the little things matter. And so, it’s about people who don’t have super powers…there’ll be some people with powers, there’ll be effects, the spectacle of science fiction storytelling, but all played on a very human, small level. So, that’s sort of the appeal of the thing.”

On his involvement with the other Phase Two films:

“It’s been pretty equal.  I read all the scripts and give notes on everything.  I’ll look at cuts when they’re ready to show me.  I’ll talk to directors if they want to.  I try to be useful without being intrusive, but I’ve gotten to sort of, be a part of all of them, and that’s, y’know, a dream job for a kid like me.”

Whedon also confirmed that he hasn’t seen a cut of IRON MAN 3 yet.  Some interesting info in regards to the various projects he’s got his hands in.  I’ve got the feeling that Whedon is really going to up his game for THE AVENGERS 2, as all eyes will be on him to deliver something as good or better.  I think Whedon knows the stakes well and plans to deliver something on an Empire Strikes Back level that will leave us all on the edge of our seats. 

It sounds like the S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show will be pretty cool and I’m looking forward to it.  Whedon is directing the pilot with prospects looking good for a pick up.  Overall, I feel that the Marvel film/TV brand is in more than capable hands with Whedon and am pleased to hear an update like this.  It’s comforting to know the captain can fly the plane.

THE AVENGERS 2 is slated for May 1, 2015.