ABC has ordered a pilot for 'S.H.I.E.L.D

[Fl_Gulfer]

Coming straight off the enormous success of 'The Avengers' movie, ABC has ordered a pilot for 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' -- the espionage and secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel universe.

The network has also brought on the film's director and writer, Joss Whedon, to executive produce and pen the project alongside his brother, Jed.

It will mark Marvel's first live-action television show and a return to television for Whedon, who has plenty of experience on the small screen with 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', 'Firefly' and 'Dollhouse'.

'S.H.I.E.L.D.' made its debut in the comics in Strange Tales #135, which was published in August 1965.

It has always been centered around director Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson in 'The Avengers'.

There's no details yet on which superheroes we may see on the show but Whedon will have a plethora of characters to pick from the vast Marvel universe.

It's probably safe to assume that he will be looking to differentiate the TV show's world from the film, with 'The Avengers' sequel slated for 2015.

[vertigo235]

Interesting

[Peter000]

Yeah, let's pick the least interesting thing in Marvel comics to make a TV show out of. (JMO).

[jamesl]

wonder if it will be a cross between "The Unit" and "Mission Impossible" ?

[Rob Helmerichs]

Originally Posted by jamesl

wonder if it will be a cross between "The Unit" and "Mission Impossible" ?

Probably more science-fictiony than that...

[TonyD79]

Somehow I doubt we will see any superheroes. More just hi tech spy stuff.

[lpwcomp]

I liked S.H.I.E.L.D. until Jim Steranko took over and turned Nick Fury into a psychedelic super-hero.

Although I always thought that what S.H.I.E.L.D. stood for was kinda dumb.

[Graymalkin]

S.H.I.E.L.D. used to be Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division. The name was a takeoff from U.N.C.L.E., which was United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.

Later they changed it to Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate. And now it's Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, at least in the Marvel movies and Avengers TV series.

Oh, and I loved Jim Steranko's art on Nick Fury and SHIELD. Unfortunately, Jim became a legend in his own mind and pretty much insufferable. Then again, I always thought David Hasselhoff did not do that bad a job as the original (pre-Sam Jackson) Nick Fury in that otherwise misbegotten 1998 TV movie. IMO, he had the hard-bitten, cigar-chomping Fury down pat.

[wprager]

Please tell me it won't be sponsored by a condom maker.

[Peter000]

Originally Posted by wprager

Please tell me it won't be sponsored by a condom maker.

Or any hygiene product with wings.

[MegaHertz67]

I have concerns about this living up to anyone's expectation. I have said for years that "expectations drive satisfaction." If you have high expectations, it will take a lot to please you.

Well talk about high expectations...let's bring in Joss and do a spin off of the most successful comic book movie ever. It will have to be budgeted higher than most action series because of the special effect necessary to make that world believable. And with the big budget, the studio will expect great ratings.

I could be wrong, but I see pain and frustration for everyone involved...including the viewers.

I remember how Terminator: SCC became much too expensive for the ratings and how much frustration was expressed on these boards.