Whedon to direct Avengers sequel

Joss Whedon will return to write and direct the sequel to Marvel's Avengers Assemble, Disney has confirmed. The news comes just weeks after the director told an audience at Comic-Con that he was undecided about whether he would return to the franchise. Marvel Studios said the sequel would be released in 2015. Disney's chief executive officer Bob Iger added Whedon would also help develop a live-action TV series featuring Marvel characters. Marvel and ABC have already been in talks to make an Avengers-themed TV series, however it has not been determined whether this will be the show Whedon will work on. Other characters in the Marvel stable include fan favourites Spider-Man, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four. In a statement, Marvel Studios said: "Joss Whedon has signed an exclusive deal with Marvel Studios for film and television through the end of June 2015. "As part of that deal, Whedon will write and direct Marvel's The Avengers 2 as well as help develop a new live action series for Marvel Television at ABC. "He will also contribute creatively to the next phase of Marvel's cinematic universe." head of Avengers 2, a slew of other sequels featuring the superhero characters will be released including Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man 3 in May and Chris Hemsworth's Thor: The Dark World in November. Chris Evans' Captain America: The Winter Soldier will follow in April 2014. The first Avengers film - known simply as The Avengers in the US - was a worldwide hit when it was released in May. It has become the third top grossing film ever, grossing $1.46bn (£937m). From: BBC