Joss Whedon Reveals Status of ‘Avengers 2′ … and Resurrection of Agent Coulson

Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon

Hollywood Boulevard is shut down for the "Iron Man3" premiere, and Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle and the movie's other stars are trekking down the red carpet. So what better time to talk about a movie that won't come out for another two years?

But Yahoo! Movies couldn't resist the opportunity to talk with "Avengers" writer-director Joss Whedon about the progress of the sequel. And the biggest news for fans: Whedon confirmed he has completed his first pass on the screenplay for "The Avengers 2," due in 2015.

4/25 update: Comic book and movie blogs are speculating over Whedon's remarks, saying he may have given away the identities of two new characters coming to the "Avengers" sequel. (See it below at 2:10-in.) Whedon called out a "brother-sister act" as he discussed the script, leading some to peg Avengers team members Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver as the most likely candidates.

Watch Yahoo! Movies Talk to Joss Whedon at the 'Iron Man 3' Premiere:

"I have actually finished a draft, we're in a very good place," Whedon said. "It's an evolution, and that goes on all through shooting and it never stops. I've done enough shows and movies to be comfortable with that. You do come to a point where we all agree … You lock certain things in. But then there's a certain fluidity when you're working with Robert [Downey Jr.]. Robert's going to want to do something new on the day, and you're going to want him to, because it’s going to be funny. So you always keep yourself open."

Asked if he was aiming to top "The Avengers," Whedon demurred. "I try not to think of it as topping 'The Avengers,' I try to think of this as its own movie," Whedon said.

"And by the way, ["Iron Man 3" director] Shane [Black] not helping! 'Iron Man 3' not helping! I see this and said, 'Aw, man, he really got it right!' The pressure continues!"

When asked if Tony Stark would be getting some of his attitude back after getting knocked down a peg emotionally in "The Avengers," Whedon said that we can expect plenty of swagger from Stark. "When Tony sees another superhero, he increases his swagger," Whedon said. "Tony, he sees Thor, and he says, 'Yeah, I got a suit of muscles that big. I INVENTED it! Oh, you can pick up a hammer? You're SO special!' He sees it as a challenge! He loves it."

And for fans still saddened by the death of Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) in "The Avengers," Whedon said that the character's back alive in the upcoming television spinoff "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"We've finished the pilot, Agent Coulson is in it, we will explain why in the pilot, and it is wonderful and [Gregg] is phenomenal in it," Whedon said. "And we should find out in the very near future whether or not everyone gets to enjoy it as much as we already have."

But Whedon made it clear that right now, "The Avengers 2" is occupying most of his time, and he's just fine with that.

"It's going really well, eventually somebody will explain to me that it's not," Whedon joked. "But I've been writing, meeting with actors, and we're starting to storyboard and all the preliminary processes. This is the part where it's all still fun."