ABC orders Whedon-produced S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot

I few weeks back I mentioned that Joss Whedon was working on a Marvel TV project, and now we know what it is.  ABC has ordered the pilot to a live action pilot of a S.H.I.E.L.D.  TV show aptly titled S.H.I.E.L.D..  For those who don’t know, a pilot is like a test episode to see if a network wants to air a series and S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional government agency from the Marvel universe.

Joss Whedon will direct the pilot and write it with his brother Jed Whedon and Jed’s wife Maurissa Tancharoen.  If that sounds familiar it’s because they worked together on 2008’s Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and on the series Dollhouse.  Beyond that, details are sparse, but here’s hoping we get some of Clark Gregg’s Agent Phil Coulson.  A show based on a fictional agency like S.H.I.E.L.D. could be many things.  It opens up the opportunity to do a weekly high-stakes spy thriller, a show about the support staff around super heroes, a platform to put lesser-known super heroes in the public eye, or even some mix of all that.  Knowing the work of Joss Whedon, I’m sure you can expect lots of character development, bare feet, a woman who excels in hand-to-hand combat, and a compelling ensemble.  With a little luck, we’ll see the return of the Galaga guy, too.

If you’re keeping track, Disney owns ABC and Marvel which makes this what men in business suits with $300 haircuts who don’t actually do any work call synergy.

ABC greenlights TV pilot for Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D., Joss Whedon at the helm | Examiner.com