Steady Avengers Fans, Joss Whedon Hasn't Signed On For Third Movie

Joss Whedon has yet to sign on to direct the third Avengers movie and is concentrating on helming the sequel Age of Ultron.

At the press junket for Thor: The Dark World, Screenrant asked Marvel Studios President of Production Kevin Feige about Whedon's involvement in the franchise beyond writing and directing the second movie.

"It's still being determined," he replied, "All of his efforts right now are in what he's doing for us primarily, obviously, writing and prepping Age of Ultron but also in reading the drafts of the films in phase 2, watching early cuts and a) to inform him where the characters are going to end up in the beginning of Age of Ultron and also to get his input and his wisdom into all of these. But right now it's all about leading up to Age of Ultron."

Essentially, Whedon isn't signed on for more. Last August, the official announcement by Marvel and parent company Disneys said Joss had signed through the "end of June 2015," meaning The Avengers 2 is where things end. As it stands, he is not involved in Edgar Wright's Ant-Man (which will star either Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Paul Rudd).

The official statement read, "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."

Watch Thor: The Dark World trailer:

So, it doesn't mean Whedon won't be involved with the next phase in the Marvel universe, though it seems he may be taking a back-seat. 

With the success of The Avengers already under his belt and the guaranteed success of Age of Ultron to come, Whedon can do whatever he wants in Hollywood and certainly isn't tied to Marvel.

Thor: The Dark World is scheduled for release on November 8, 2013. The Avengers: Age of Ultron hits on May 1, 2015 and Ant-Man will follow on July 31, 2015. More unannounced films from Marvel will follow on May 6, 2015, July 8, 2016 and May 5, 2017. 

Joss Whedon May Not Be Back For The Avengers 3