The Playlist

TIFF Review: Joss Whedon's 'Much Ado About Nothing' Is An Unexpected Delight

By Christopher Schobert
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September 10, 2012 10:02 AM
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8 Comments

Reviews

How does one follow the biggest superhero film in box office history? Perhaps a better way to phrase it is, how does the man behind some of the most beloved cult TV series and characters in recent pop history follow the biggest superhero film in box office history? If we're talking about the much-loved Joss Whedon – who else? – you decamp to your home, grab a camera, invite over your friends, and create a delightful, DIY, modern-day black-and-white adaptation of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." Duh.

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Joss Whedon Talks ‘The Avengers’ Deleted Scenes, Says He Was Trying To Make A War Movie

By Benjamin Wright
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August 31, 2012 2:49 PM
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0 Comments

News

Anyone with even a modicum of interest in putting comic books to film in a true and worthwhile way probably has breathed a few sighs of relief over the past few weeks. First, when “The Avengers” mastermind Joss Whedon was announced as taking the director’s seat on that film’s sequel, then when he was pretty much anointed the king of Marveland as they put the post-“The Avengers” film and television landscape in his hands, and then finally just this past week it was announced Whedon would be heading up a series for ABC based on the high-flying “S.H.I.E.L.D.” organization. So yeah, it’s a pretty good time to see the panels of your favorite comic come to life.

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'S.H.I.E.L.D.' TV Series Moves Ahead, Joss Whedon To Write & Possibly Direct

By Kevin Jagernauth
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August 28, 2012 9:59 PM
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5 Comments

Television

Well, that didn't take long. Mere weeks after inking a 3 year deal with Marvel, parent company Disney has put Joss Whedon to work, and it will find him expanding the comic brand to the small screen.

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TIFF Scores: Danny Elfman Takes 'Silver Linings Playbook'; Bright Eyes Players Score 'Writers'; DeVotchKa Tunes Up 'Maisie' & 'Arthur Newman' And More

By Kevin Jagernauth
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August 15, 2012 3:39 PM
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1 Comment

News

While your eyes will be dazzled next month with the staggering number of great movies unspooling at TIFF, you may want to keep your ears at attention too, because there are some rather interesting names popping up as composers and contributors of music to a variety of films.

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Marvel Puts The Future Of Phase Two In The Hands Of Joss Whedon In Deal That Extends To June 2015

By Kevin Jagernauth
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August 8, 2012 9:02 AM
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2 Comments

News

“We’re in preproduction on a movie called ’Iron Man 3’ right now. We've got a great director called Shane Black who's taking the reins. It’s the first of what we refer to Phase Two of this Avengers Assemble talk, which will lead to an ‘Avengers 2.’ Those movies will be a part of that,” Kevin Feige said at the New York Comic-Con last fall. But a lot has changed since then, most importantly, the billion dollar success of "The Avengers," which basically no one saw coming. It was a game-changer not only at the box office, but critically with the Marvel movie earning some of the best notices of any picture they've done. But it also proved the value of a writer/director making the most of the opportunity to flex their muscle within the Marvel universe, and deliver the kind of results that pleased both hardcore fanboys and general audiences alike. And Marvel, wisely, want to continue to do that.

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Joss Whedon Will Write & Direct 'The Avengers 2'

By Kevin Jagernauth
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August 7, 2012 5:34 PM
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15 Comments

News

With Disney confirming development of "The Avengers 2" shortly after its record breaking opening weekend, and with Marvel unveiling a logo at Comic-Con, all that was left to do was get writer/director Joss Whedon back on board. “I have not come to a decision on directing 'Avengers 2' yet,” he said only just a couple of weeks ago. “I am having too much fun with this ('Firefly' reunion) now.” But it looks like the dump truck full of money and promises from Disney and Marvel has finally landed.

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New Images From Joss Whedon's Low-Budget Indie 'Much Ado About Nothing'

By Kevin Jagernauth
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August 2, 2012 2:27 PM
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5 Comments

News

Will all the fanboys and ticket buyers who made "The Avengers" a $1 billion success come out for Joss Whedon's indie "Much Ado About Nothing"? Um, probably not, but you gotta admire Whedon for following up his blockbuster extravanganza with a movie he literally shot in his backyard.

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Joss Whedon Remains Undecided About Directing ‘Avengers 2′

By Edward Davis
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July 13, 2012 8:01 PM
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8 Comments

News

When you direct and rewrite one of the biggest films of all time, and are often considered the architect of said feature for pulling off the various and disparate movie threads that lead to that complex feat, everyone wants to know what you're going to do for an encore.

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Marvel-Mania: Joss Whedon Torn About Whether To Do 'Avengers' Sequel; Robert Downey Jr. Got Paid More Than Rest Of Cast Combined

By Edward Davis
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May 17, 2012 3:30 PM
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3 Comments

News

Another day, another dollop of Marvel related news. Super hero movies like "The Avengers" are a team effort, only they're not so much when it comes to the payscale. Awkward for all involved? The Hollywood Reporter recently reported that the motormouthed and scene-stealing Robert Downey Jr. (who reportedly has a lot of say when it comes to these movies; see the director having to re-convince him of some strong ideas) will get paid a cool $50 million for his involvment in Joss Whedon directed film thanks to bonuses and backend deals (and that figure may even rise as the box-office for the superhero film continues to soar). The bad news for the rest of the team that helped out in this group effort? Apparently even combined the rest of the cast didn't make that much money. The next time they all do press together and RDJ inevitably tries to steal the spotlight, that's going to smart.

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What Next For Joss Whedon, Marvel & Hollywood After The Mammoth Success Of 'The Avengers'?

By Oliver Lyttelton
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May 7, 2012 2:02 PM
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7 Comments

Features

Most people thought "The Avengers" would make money. The five official Marvel movies to date, from 2008's "Iron Man" to last year's "Captain America" had, after all, made over $2.2 billion worldwide. But most figured that, given that the film followed on to four franchises simultaneously, that there would be a cap on it: surely if "Iron Man 2" made $600 million worldwide, that was the ceiling for the film's grosses? But thanks to sterling reviews, phenomenal word of mouth, and a strong marketing campaign, the film has already made that sum in less than two weeks of international release, topping it off with a record-breaking U.S. opening weekend of $200 million, $50 million ahead of estimates, and $30 million more than the previous record holder, last year's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2"

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