Much Ado About Whedon

Multi-talented Joss Whedon (screenwriter, director, producer, actor, comic-book author and composer) can do no wrong these days. Having enjoyed cult status – and a doggedly dedicated fan following – since Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the mid-90s, there are few people today who don't know his name, thanks to last year's phenomenally successful Avengers Assemble, now the third highest-grossing film of all time. So what does Whedon decide to do next? A low-budget, black and white Shakespeare adaptation, of course.

Fans of his TV shows and movies aren't the only Whedon-nuts. His cast and crew also provide unwavering admiration. Regular collaborator Nathan Fillion (star of Firefly and Serenity) reported that he answers phone calls from Whedon by saying "I'm in,” so irrelevant is the actual offer. Much Ado About Nothing, a modern day version of the Bard's romantic comedy, came about after years of gathering friends to his LA home for Shakespearean readings (almost everyone involved has appeared in at least one of his previous projects). This is not the first time such gatherings have resulted in a creative endeavor: Once More with Feeling, a musical episode of Buffy, which currently has a higher IMDB rating than The Shawshank Redemption, the site's number one film, came about after an alcohol-fuelled sing-along session around the piano at Whedon's pad.

It may seem strange that the man credited with the screenplay for Alien: Resurrection and a flop teen flick starring Luke Perry (the Buffy the Vampire slayer film) now enjoys an unprecedented freedom in Hollywood. For years he appeared to be cursed with cancellations. In spite of Buffy's commercial and critical success, he feared the show would be stopped after season five, before managing to relocate to UPN for a further two years. Buffy spinoff Angel came to an abrupt halt after five seasons; Dollhouse survived just two (one more than Whedon expected); sci-fi western Firefly lasted a mere fourteen episodes, despite winning an Emmy. Yet from these disappointments, Whedon created new opportunities. All four television shows continued in comic-book form, while Firefly's story concluded at feature length with the excellent Serenity, in 2005.

Whedon's films and television shows have become known for the writer's distinctive style: his quick wit, pop culture references, and nerdy in-jokes have cemented his status as a geek icon. He is also a feminist favourite, having created Buffy because he believed the helpless blonde in horror movies needed a better image. His preference for ensemble casts proved he was the perfect choice for Avengers Assemble, where he put his talents to good use and, among other things, created the first truly successful onscreen appearance of the Hulk. His next (known) projects are Marvel-based, with Avengers 2 due in 2015. Could it knock Avatar off top spot as most successful film ever? With Joss Whedon, anything's possible.