For about a month now, the Marvel Universe has been buzzing about a potential live action TV series on ABC set in the same universe as the hit films from Marvel Studios. Then, when Joss Whedon signed an exclusive deal to write and direct ‘The Avengers 2’ and to oversee and develop Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was speculated that the director would have a big part in the creation of this new TV show. Now, we can officially say that the speculation is over and the director will be returning to the screen that really made him a star.

According to Deadline, ABC has given a pilot order to this Marvel TV series called ‘S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Whedon will co-write and possibly direct the pilot (schedule permitting) for Marvel’s first live action series in this post-‘Avengers’ world. He will collaborate with his brother Jed and his sister-in-law Maurissa Tancharoen on the script based on the peacekeeping organization of the Marvel Universe helmed by Nick Fury.

While the world may now know him for his work on ‘The Avengers’, Whedon’s stronghold lies in the smaller screens. All the TV shows that he created (‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’, ‘Angel’, ‘Firefly’, ‘Dollhouse’, and even ‘Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog’) have developed huge cult followings and are considered by many to be crowning achievements in television, so it’s safe to say that the man can handle himself on this Marvel show, so long as he’s not cancelled prematurely.

No details are available at the time of this writing, so one has to wonder a number of things. For example, when is this series set? Maybe it’s in between the phases? Or maybe it’s before ‘The Avengers’ and we’ll get to see Agent Phil Coulson played by Clark Gregg once again? And what about the higher ups of the organization, Nick Fury and Maria Hill? Will Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders reprise their roles for the series? And what about new heroes? Could we see agents/Avengers Hawkeye and Black Widow pop up in the show? Or, more likely, new agents we haven’t seen yet like Bobbi Morse (Mockingbird), Sharon Carter, or Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman)? And what about the Avengers themselves? So many questions and no answers! All I know is that I’m excited for this to be coming together and hopefully is gets taken to series.

What do you think about Joss Whedon’s ‘S.H.I.E.L.D.’ for ABC? Sound off in the comments below!